Compare the presentation of female experience in your 2 chosen texts?
In both Mrs Dalloway and Wuthering Heights – Woolf and Bronte respectively use different avenues to present the experience of females most notably through the characters of Clarissa and Catherine respectively. As Mrs Dalloway is modernist and Wuthering Heights from the gothic literary era, the novels strive to explore the experiences of real people experiencing real situations within societies that impede self-expression, and women are at the forefront of this. Both novels explore in depth and criticize the futility of the woman’s pursuit of love and the restriction of the everywoman’s individuality and voice, first as a result of society and then through her own self infliction. Both female protagonists face the tragedy of having to let go of love that is profound but goes against the wishes of society, perhaps suggesting the extent to which women lacked emotional freedom – they cannot even pursue love to the fullest extent. In Mrs Dalloway, Woolf explores this through Clarissa’s dual sexuality. The formative experience she shared with her old flame Sally Seton compared with the less than thrilling reality of her husband Richard suggests that Clarissa’s want to pursue her true desire is overridden by the need to conform to society’s expectations of her. Woolf cleverly uses the recurring theme of flowers to illustrate the differing effects each individual has on Clarissa – Sally being everything that Richard is not. Sally is established as an unconventional and exciting character who “picked hollyhocks, dahlias… cut their heads off, and made them swim on the top of water in bowls”. This portrays Sally as expressive and creative, someone who subverts traditional means of expression of love and who, if a psychoanalytical reading were to be applied, draws Clarissa in because she is everything Clarissa lacks, making for a refreshing and enlightening addition to her youth which up till the entrance of Sally, was surrounded by flowers in “stiff little vases” – an analogy for repression. Richard in comparison is seen “bearing his flowers like a weapon” as a declaration of his love for Clarissa. Woolf’s interesting choice of simile serves to shed light on Richard’s inability to express love as the juxtaposition of the fragrant, delicate flowers with the masculine, violent weapon suggests that Richard cannot embrace love in a way that is pleasing to Clarissa. The lexis of “weapon” may also be suggestive of the almost violent nature of feelings projected from men onto woman in early 20th century society, suggesting the institution of courtship and marriage is oppressive. This links to female experience because it could be Woolf’s way of commenting on the futility of women pursing love. Sally was exciting, what some may regard as Clarissa’s ‘true’ love yet in the end she settles with Richard as an existence with Sally could not exist in the society she lives in. With Sally she felt a “radiance burnt through, a revelation, the religious experience”, the repetition of the ‘r’ sound suggesting the euphoric, spiritual nature of Sally and Clarissa’s love and contrasting with the emotionless “understanding of Richard Dalloway” that is Clarissa’s justification for marrying Richard at all, making her marriage to him seem like a transaction. Through this contrast Bronte brings to the forefront Clarissa’s dilemma: to choose Sally who brings her “passion” or Richard who is practical but lacks excitement. Clarissa’s experience will ring true with many of the contemporary readership, especially women who may have found themselves forfeiting love for tradition and practicality. Applying a feminist reading, Woolf is highlighting the lack of freedom women had in matters of love, and the detrimental effect this has on their emotions and wellbeing since Clarissa constantly feels as though she “has failed [Richard]” because of her inability to be passionate with him. Therefore Woolf as a whole could be criticizing the institution of marriage and making women (especially contemporaries) think about their relationships and if they are there completely by choice or coercion by society.
