Outside Looking In
Septimus Warren Smith, a war veteran dealing with shellshock, is a character created by Virginia Woolf in her novel, Mrs. Dalloway. Septimus is constantly found stuck in the past instead of focusing on the present. His wife, doctors, and even those who he has not met, all view his condition quite differently. Throughout the book, different perspectives helps the audience put together the pieces and create a visual of who Septimus really is. Seeing Septimus through the other character’s eyes allows the reader to feel connected to Septimus. The love for Septimus develops as more characters voice their perspective on the shellshock victim. Woolf’s use of outside perspectives gives the audience an insight into Septimus’s life,…show more content… Clarissa’s perspective is quite important due to the emotions she feels for a man that she has never interacted with, similar to the reader’s emotions. Leaving her party for a few minutes, Clarissa thinks, “She felt somehow very like him - the young man who killed himself...He made her feel the beauty; made her feel the fun” (186). This is quite a profound moment for Clarissa. Her perspective on Septimus is positive despite the dark situation. In this scene, Clarissa makes the realization that Septimus and her are alike. The death of Septimus made Clarissa feel somehow very similar to him. Her feelings are comparable to Septimus’ feelings. His death also made Clarissa “feel the beauty”, translating to his death feeling beautiful, and as if it is good. This realization that Clarissa feels is strange to the audience. The death of a man Clarissa did not know “made her feel the fun”. This is the first time the audience gets the perspective that Septimus’ death was beautiful and fun. Septimus’ death somehow made Clarissa feel some sort of warped beauty, enabling the reader to also feel that same emotion Clarissa
