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Fezekile Cokile wrote a paper analyzing the character of Peter Walsh in Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway. The paper argues that Peter serves two roles: as seen through Clarissa's subjective memories, and as a reflection of Clarissa's own character. Clarissa views Peter as bitter and critical, but their interaction shows their deep love and similarities. They both use defensive habits like Peter's knife and Clarissa's scissors to protect their egos. Their criticism of each other also shows how alike they are. Their emotional reunion reveals their enduring feelings despite their flaws. The paper concludes that understanding Peter is key to understanding Clarissa herself.
![The focus of this paper is on the role played by the character Peter Walsh in the novella, Mrs
Dalloway. The essay will argue that Peter serves dual roles in the novel. The first role is Peter
as seen through Clarissas subjective perspective. The second role upon looking at the
interaction between Peter and Clarissa, Peter serves as a reflection to the kind of woman that
Clarissa Dalloway is.
Initially the novel introduces Peter Walsh through Clarissas thoughts as she walks in the city
of London on a glorious sunny morning. Clarissa is busy preparing for her dinner party later
that evening. Peter is introduced as a resentful individual who had never to this day forgiven
her [Clarissa] for liking him [Hugh, an old friend of Clarissas] (Woolf 6). In this memory
Clarissa contrasts Peter to her old friend Hugh and Peter comes out as a bitter man who is
controlled by anger and is a positive imbecile (6). Peter is also revealed as an opinionated
self-righteous man who is critical of others. This is shown when Clarissa recalls Peter saying
that Hugh had no heart, no brain, nothing but the manners and breeding of an English
gentleman, (6). Despite viewing Peter in this light that he can be intolerant and impossible
to deal with it is amazing to find that Clarissa would still find it pleasant to take a walk with
him on a morning like thiswhere June had drawn out every leaf on the trees (6). It
becomes clear to the reader without any need of historical background of these two that there
are romantic attachments carried by Clarissa for Peter.
Subsequently, this is shown as Clarissa broods further. Clarissa knows Peter well, as a lover
knows the other. She appears to have gained acceptance and inner peace in accepting Peter as
the kind of man that he is. She knows quite well that she could never change him. This is
implied in Clarissas admission that despite having Peter there with her on such a glorious
pleasant day however beautiful the day might be, and the trees and the grass, and the little
girl in pink Peter never saw a thing of all that, (6). Peter is more interested in the state of
the world and of course, as aforementioned, he is an utter critic of peoples characters
eternally, and especially the defects of Clarissas (6). Again Peters temper which seems
uncontrollable does not hold Peter back in scolding Clarissa. The two have an antagonistic
relationship because of how they argued! (6).
Perhaps Clarissa would not have minded the arguments as much had they married. However,
Peter comes across as controlling, and as Clarissa puts it for in a marriage a little licence, a
little independence there must be between people living together, (7). Of course Peter,
according to Clarissa, could not provide that. Nevertheless the fact that Clarissa admits that](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/dalloway-cokileread-131110114831-phpapp02/85/Dalloway-cokile-read-2-320.jpg)
Dalloway cokile,read
- 1. Name: Fezekile Surname: Cokile Student number: 12c0019 Course: English 2 Group: Time: Monday 15: 10 p.m. Due Date: 23 August 2013 Tutor:
- 2. The focus of this paper is on the role played by the character Peter Walsh in the novella, Mrs Dalloway. The essay will argue that Peter serves dual roles in the novel. The first role is Peter as seen through Clarissas subjective perspective. The second role upon looking at the interaction between Peter and Clarissa, Peter serves as a reflection to the kind of woman that Clarissa Dalloway is. Initially the novel introduces Peter Walsh through Clarissas thoughts as she walks in the city of London on a glorious sunny morning. Clarissa is busy preparing for her dinner party later that evening. Peter is introduced as a resentful individual who had never to this day forgiven her [Clarissa] for liking him [Hugh, an old friend of Clarissas] (Woolf 6). In this memory Clarissa contrasts Peter to her old friend Hugh and Peter comes out as a bitter man who is controlled by anger and is a positive imbecile (6). Peter is also revealed as an opinionated self-righteous man who is critical of others. This is shown when Clarissa recalls Peter saying that Hugh had no heart, no brain, nothing but the manners and breeding of an English gentleman, (6). Despite viewing Peter in this light that he can be intolerant and impossible to deal with it is amazing to find that Clarissa would still find it pleasant to take a walk with him on a morning like thiswhere June had drawn out every leaf on the trees (6). It becomes clear to the reader without any need of historical background of these two that there are romantic attachments carried by Clarissa for Peter. Subsequently, this is shown as Clarissa broods further. Clarissa knows Peter well, as a lover knows the other. She appears to have gained acceptance and inner peace in accepting Peter as the kind of man that he is. She knows quite well that she could never change him. This is implied in Clarissas admission that despite having Peter there with her on such a glorious pleasant day however beautiful the day might be, and the trees and the grass, and the little girl in pink Peter never saw a thing of all that, (6). Peter is more interested in the state of the world and of course, as aforementioned, he is an utter critic of peoples characters eternally, and especially the defects of Clarissas (6). Again Peters temper which seems uncontrollable does not hold Peter back in scolding Clarissa. The two have an antagonistic relationship because of how they argued! (6). Perhaps Clarissa would not have minded the arguments as much had they married. However, Peter comes across as controlling, and as Clarissa puts it for in a marriage a little licence, a little independence there must be between people living together, (7). Of course Peter, according to Clarissa, could not provide that. Nevertheless the fact that Clarissa admits that
- 3. she would still find herself still arguing in St James Park, still making out that she had been right(6) in refusing Peters proposal, she dearly loves him. In fact in one instance before the dinner party Peter asks Clarissa whether she is happy. Unfortunately they are interrupted before Clarissa could answer. If one goes back to reread Clarissas statement that she still thinks herself right in refusing Peters proposal one could then conclude that Clarissa is truly not happy in her marriage. Her statement is simply what the mind has been made to believe but her actions (constant thoughts about Peter) prove that she is not happy. No doubt she would have been a whole lot unhappier married to Peter as she would not have had the independence that Richard, her husband, give her. A simple thing as going alone in town is one of the seemingly insignificant things that Clarissa appreciates which Peter would possibly not have allowed due to his controlling nature. Ultimately Clarissa views herself as not compatible with Peter, and so, Peters role at this stage of the novel serves the role of a bittersweet memory. However, it cannot be ignored the fact that Clarissa is a subjective individual as are all humans. Her perspective of the world, her perspective of Peter, is clouded with her experiences and emotions. No matter what analysis Clarissas mind labels Peter to be how bitter and angry she labels herself to be the subjective nature of her mind could never truly encompass the whole truth of who Peter really is. Clarissas mind, much like any other human mind, selects and projects the memory that suits that specific moment. And she has been doing that since at the age of eighteen when she refused Peters marriage proposal. Clarissas thinking processes of course point to the novels literary device, namely Stream of consciousness. Stream of consciousness is a narrative mode which seeks to show an individuals point of view by giving the written equivalent of the characters thought process possibly as an interior monologue. A look at the interaction between Clarissa and Peter before the party not only shows how truly in love these two are with one another but it also shows the similarities that these two share. Granted, Peter can be said to be a reflection of Clarissa. Clarissa sees herself in Peter and thus Peter also plays the role of Clarissas other self. The seemingly strange habit of carrying a knife is not queer at all, as Clarissa puts it, since Clarissa also always has a pair of scissors in her hand when sewing. On the surface Clarissas pair of scissors and Peters knife may appear to be a mundane matter However when one explores deeper below the surface one could conclude that these two weapons are nothing but metaphorical defences to safeguard their egotism. Peters knife is a symbol of his bitterness, his fury and his criticism of others, a rightful defence instrument one might say since, as he puts it that Clarissa is too
- 4. coldsewing with her scissors, (37). Furthermore he is thought of as a failure by Clarissa and the whole of the Dalloway family. Naturally Peter has to arm himself by taking out his knife quite openlyand clenched his fist upon it, (37). It could be said that this is his way of dealing with people around him. Likewise, Clarissas pair of scissors or her needle symbolically acts as a protective weapon against anyone trying to hurt her feelings, especially Peter, hence she is like a Queen whose guards have fallen asleep and left her unprotected, (37). Funny enough she screams internally to Peter to leave your knife (39) meaning that he should put down his defences. But how could he when she is not doing the same? Another prominent feature of similarity between the two is that they are overly critical of one another. As aforementioned Clarissa views Peter as short-tempered and judgmental whereas she is also the same. He always criticizes me, (35). Justifiably Peter does this because he feels that he has been hurt tremendously by Clarissa. Why make him think of it again? Why make him suffer when she had tortured him so infernally? Why? (36).This is what Peter asks when Clarissa brings up the fact that she had declined marrying Peter. The interaction between Clarissa and Peter further reveals lighting of an old flame which had never died. Even time (after five years) does not seem to have changed anything, five years to be precise. The two still feel the same burning love and this is despite the irritating habits they observe in one another. Peter Walsh cannot help but to tremble in Clarissas presence, even weeping when taking both her hands, kissing both her hands, (34). Suddenly thrown by those uncontrollable forces, thrown through the air, he burst into tears, wept, wept without the least of shame, (34). This depth of weakness on Peters part not only shows a moment when he lets go of his defences (leave your knife, Clarissa had begged earlier) but it creates a space between him and Clarissa to connect on a level deeper than their egotist selves. Not surprisingly Clarissa leans forward, takes his hand and kisses him. This leads to Peter asking the significant question, Are you happy, Clarissa? (40).What is more riveting about this scene is perhaps its ending when Peter finally leaves. It is Mrs Dalloways echoing words which make the scene more memorable when she calls out to Peter, remember my party tonight (41). The words not only mean what they obviously mean but also seem to mean remember me, dont forget about me Peter Walsh. Peter repeats the words inside his head as he walks down the street and as much as he could never understand why Clarissa gives these parties but he is no doubt aware that they are important to her. And so the question is will he go to the dinner party? Will he show up and affirming to Clarissa that he will never forget her since the two are a mirror image of one another?
- 5. In conclusion, this paper has shown through a great deal of examples how Peters role is not simply a memory in Clarissas mind but he also serves as a reflection to the kind of woman that Clarissa is. Therefore it can be concluded that without Peter in novel it would have been very hard to understand the person that Clarissa is.
- 6. Cited Works Virginia Woolf. Mrs Dalloway. New York: Oxford University Press. Inc, 1992