Clarissa Dalloway: Just a Hostess?

Clarissa Dalloway is married to Mr. Richard Dalloway and is the protagonist of the novel. Her basic role in her community is to hold parties at her house for important individuals. However, we quickly see at the beginning of the novel that Clarissa is more than a simple hostess. Naturally, when we think of a hostess, we see a shallow, dumb-witted, featherbrained woman. In one sense, Clarissa can be viewed as this stereotypical role, especially when referring to the adjective 'shallow'. However, on the other hand, we see a deeper side to Clarissa, the more appealing side to her that she unfortunately chooses to hide from her society.
Clarissa Dalloway chose to marry Richard Dalloway over her dear friend Peter Walsh. Many years later, she still contemplates whether this decision was the right one to make. She believes she made the right choice, but at the same time, wonders whether she should have married him, “So she would still find herself arguing in St. James's Park, still making out that she had been right-- and she had too-- not marry him. For in marriage... a little independence there must be between people living together... in the same house...she had to break it with him or they would have been destroyed, both of them ruined, she was convinced...” (7,8) This “independence,” Clarissa feels, is given to her by Richard, and to Richard by her. However, is this really true? How is Clarissa truly free if she hides her thoughts, even from her own husband. Isn't she already destroyed, being that she is trapped in this superficial world that she so very much hates? Though Clarissa seems very sure of her decision in the beginning of the novel, readers see her uncertainty return, “Now of course, thought Clarissa, he's enchanting! perfectly enchanting! Now I remember how impossible it was ever to make up my mind-- and why did I make up my mind-- not to marry him? she wondered, that awful summer?” (41)
The ironic thing about Mrs. Richard Dalloway is that she is quite the thinker. She inwardly self-reflects on a daily basis and struggles to find the meaning to her life of glitz and glam. She gave up a life of passion with Peter to obtain a life of security and upper-class wealth. It persistently plagues her that she has chosen this life, especially since this is what Peter had predicted for her, “She would marry a Prime Minister and stand at the top of a staircase; the perfect hostess he called her (she had cried over it in her bedroom), she had the makings of a perfect hostess, he said.” (7) Clarissa also constantly thinks about pressing issues like society, life, aging and death. When walking in the streets, she plunges into deep thoughts about her existence, death, and what goes on after death, “Did it matter then, she asked herself... that she must inevitably cease completely; all this must go on without her; did she resent it; or did it not become consoling to believe that death ended absolutely?” (9)
Though Mrs. Dalloway is an individual of much depth and contemplation, she is viewed by others as shallow, judgmental, and critical. This is because Clarissa is too concerned with her outward appearance and others' opinions of her. She buries both her intellect and complex emotions on life's most important issues. One particular instance is shown in Peter's point of view as he remembers a dinner that took place at the Bourton in the summer of the early nineties. The guests were speaking about a neighbor who had a baby before marriage. Her reaction to the news was one of obnoxious and judgmental criticism. She unmercifully scorned the woman and was unsympathetic toward her. She poked fun at the way she dressed, “She was absurdly over-dressed, “like a cockatoo,” Clarissa had said, imitating her, and she never stopped talking. On and on she went, on and on. Clarissa imitated her. Then somebody said...before they'd married she had had a baby... He could see Clarissa now, turning bright pink; contracting; and saying, “Oh, I shall never be able to speak to her again!” Whereupon the whole table seemed to wobble. It was uncomfortable.” (59) Peter feels that this was the time of the death of Clarissa's soul, which is a very rational statement because shortly after, Clarissa rejects Peter for Richard. This situation shows how hypocritical Clarissa is; she blatantly attacks another individual so that she may boost her own appearance. Peter describes her manner as “arrogant, unimaginative, and prudish.”(59)
Will Clarissa be able to overcome her obsession with societal appearance? As of now, Clarissa still struggles to find her place in society. Does she want to continue to be Mrs. Richard Dalloway? Or will she break out of her self-restricting life and pursue her inner desires. One thing is certain, Clarissa is taking part in the oppression at the moment. Perhaps her role may soon shift...
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