Does Clarissa like Peter?
In Mrs. Dalloway there are some
mixed signals on how Clarissa feels towards Peter Walsh. At times it seems as
though she regrets not marrying him, or that she regrets marrying Richard. At
other times it seems like she thinks Peter was obnoxious and not husband
material. Clarissa’s memories of him could also be interpreted as reminiscing
but not regretting the past. Especially when her memories of Peter aren’t
positive memories and are more like remembering times he was annoying or hurt
her feelings. For example, she remembers that Peter had said she would be the
“perfect hostess” and Clarissa had “cried over it in her bedroom.”
She also compares Peter to Richard
in a negative way saying that “with Peter everything had to be shared” but with
Richard they gave each other space. We know that she appreciates this distance
from Richard but that it might be too much space. While Clarissa was sick they
slept in different beds and they interact in a very business-like manner. When
Richard goes to lunch with another woman (as friends) Clarissa feels left out
and found out from a note, she thinks later about him leaving for lunch, “He
had left me; I am alone for ever”. I think this is her wishing that she had a
closer relationship with Richard.
When Peter comes to visit Clarissa
later in the day, he tells her that he is in love! She is shocked and says to
herself, “He was in love! Not with her. With some younger woman, of course.” This
reaction could maybe mean that she is jealous that Peter doesn’t love her, but
instead I think she is envious of Peter being truly in love with someone. While
she, in contrast, has more of a business level love with Richard. After this
moment she kisses Peter and thinks of an alternate life she could have led with
him if they had gotten married. I think that the way she considers the
different life she could have is her missing the wildness and spontaneity of
her relationship with Peter. She might be considering this different path she
could have taken, but I think that she is still satisfied with being Mrs.
Richard Dalloway because she can succeed at throwing parties and being a good
wife and a perfect hostess.
You make a great point, Gloria. Woolf makes it pretty cloudy as to how loving the relationship between Richard and Clarissa really is, and she does a great job playing around with the feelings of her characters to make them more real to us. I always wondered how Clarissa and Peter's relationship really is like, and what their history is together, as we get much more of a history with Peter and Clarissa than with Richard. Hopefully later in the book we get deeper into their marriage and what they really mean to each other romantically. But it doesn't seem like a very confrontational and crazy relationship like Peter and Clarissa, I agree. Richard gives Clarissa flowers, but it says a lot that its hard for Richard just to say, "I love you," to Clarissa. What's that supposed to mean?
ReplyDeleteNice post Gloria!
I think your post brings up a lot of great points, and guides nicely through the nuances of Peter and Clarissa's relationship! While Clarissa thinks negatively upon Peter sometimes in the book, like what you said about when she is remembering Peter being rude to her, to me it seems that there always seems to be something drawing her back to him, making her keep thinking about him even when they haven't seen each other in years. If this is love, or even fondness at all, it is very hard to tell. The comparison between Peter and Richard is an interesting one, at times it seems as though they're opposites but other times it's like they're very alike. I think you bring up good points about the differences in the space Peter and Richard give Clarissa, which is one way in which they are very different. Great post, Glo!
ReplyDeleteClarissa’s feelings for Peter are an interesting debate. In my opinion, although Richard gives her stability and space, he doesn’t challenge her in any way. We have seen in the past that Clarissa is attracted to conflict (opposition is true friendship anyone?). The things she loves most about Sally, for example, is that Sally teaches her new things, and provides her with new perspectives. I think this might also be why she likes Peter – he challenges her, both with his words directly, but also just in general intellectually. So I think that Peter’s nagging, and Clarissa’s seeming annoyance at them might be a form of love.
ReplyDeleteI love this point you make about Clarissa and Peter's relationship. It does seem that there are many differences between Richard and Peter, which shape the way Clarissa feels about them. For example, as you said Richard provides a sort of stability for Clarissa which she obviously enjoys. This is something she misses in her relationship with Peter, because even though she obviously had some feelings for him, he does not seem like a responsible person. Although she doesn't like the instability that Peter has, she obviously misses the spontaneity and Peter's general enthusiasm in her relationship with Richard, with whom, as you say, she can be the perfect hostess.
ReplyDeleteGloria, I think the points you make about Clarissa and Peter's relationship are valid. You are 100% correct about Clarissa's mindset towards both Peter and Richard. Clarissa does act as if she's missing something with Richard, but then again the chances of Clarissa and Peter being as "successful" of a relationship (however you define successful) are slim. I would also like to add something to the point of discussion. I think Clarissa has become so accustomed to Peter showing affection for her, she is startled when she finds Peter loves another.
ReplyDeleteQuality post. I really the way you explain both sides of the argument: would Peter or Richard be better for Clarissa? Which does she like more? It's hard to tell throughout the book with her constant reminiscing on past relationships. At times it seems as though she wishes she had married Peter and followed that path even though she also often seems satisfied with the life she chose. I agree with the way you've chosen to portray Clarissa's relationship with Richard, I definitely see it as business-like as well. The contrast between being with Richard and being with Peter seems to be like business vs a party- but like a party that you party TOO hard at.
ReplyDelete