The story in one page
Clarissa Dalloway spends a June morning buying flowers for a party she is hosting that evening in Westminster. Her day intersects with Peter Walsh, an old flame recently returned from India, and Septimus Smith, a shell-shocked veteran suffering from terrifying hallucinations. As Clarissa navigates social obligations and memories of her youth at Bourton, Septimus experiences the intrusive interventions of doctors who fail to grasp his internal collapse. The narrative shifts between the internal worlds of its cast, building toward the evening party where the social veneer remains intact, even after news of a death reaches the room. It ends with Clarissa stepping out to face her guests, finally feeling the weight of the day.
Who's who
- Clarissa Dalloway
Hostess of the party, fifty-something, prone to reflection.
- Peter Walsh
Old friend of Clarissa, currently pursuing a divorce.
- Septimus Smith
A veteran suffering from visions and trauma.
- Rezia Smith
Septimus's wife, a young foreigner trying to cope.
- Sir William Bradshaw
A doctor who views human nature as a medical problem.
What it's really about
- Social performance
- Maintaining appearances in elite London circles.
- Internal isolation
- The private gulf between human minds.
Why it's memorable
- Clarissa standing on the kerb, appearing like a bird.
- Septimus listening to the voices of the dead behind a screen.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
The party winds down as guests depart. Peter Walsh sits alone, overcome by sudden excitement, and realizes that the source of his intense feeling is simply Clarissa.
For your book club
- How does the structure mimic the flow of thought?
- Are these characters actually listening to each other?