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Fiction

Notes 29.2.2 Part II, Sections 3–4

Part II, Section Three Summary

Clarissa was very annoyed. Mrs. Marsham had written her about inviting Ellie Henderson to
her party, but Clarissa had purposely not invited Ellie. She was a bore. She was also annoyed
that Elizabeth was praying with Miss Kilman. The clock struck three and Richard walked in,
holding flowers. He could not bring himself to say he loved her, but she understood. Clarissa
thanked him and filled him in on her list of annoyances. Richard told her about Hugh being
at lunch and being an ass, and Clarissa mentioned Peter’s visit, and how bizarre it was that
she had almost married him. Richard held her hand. He then hurried off to some committee
meeting, though he was not sure himself whether it was about the Armenians or Albanians.
Before leaving, Richard told Clarissa to rest, as he always did, because a doctor once had
suggested that she rest after lunch.
Lying down, Clarissa felt selfish that she cared more about roses than suffering Albanians. She
felt uneasy and realized that it was because of the negative reactions both Peter and Richard
had toward her parties. Peter thought her a snob; Richard thought her childish. Yet, she loved
her parties because she loved sharing in people’s lives. Parties were her offering to the world,
her gift. Clarissa was amazed by the very essence of life, moment to moment, the simple
pleasures of seeing beauty. The door opened and Elizabeth entered. Strangely, Elizabeth did
not resemble the rest of the Dalloways, but had an almost Asian look to her. Clarissa was
bothered because she had become very serious lately. Miss Kilman stood outside the door, and
Elizabeth told her mother that they were going to the Army and Navy surplus stores.
Miss. Kilman despised Clarissa because, in her eyes, Clarissa was mean and superficial. She
felt plain next to Clarissa and cheated by the world. She did not mind Mr. Dalloway; he had
invited her to teach history to Elizabeth. Miss. Kilman told herself that she pitied women like
Mrs. Dalloway. Whenever she was filled with sinister thoughts, she thought of God. When
Mrs. Dalloway came out with Elizabeth, Miss. Kilman tried not to hate. She told herself there
would be a religious victory in the end, and she would triumph. In return, Clarissa felt
victimized. She felt that this woman was stealing her daughter. They stood awkwardly together
for a moment as Elizabeth ran for her gloves. Then, Miss. Kilman and Elizabeth left.
Desperate, Clarissa yelled after Elizabeth to remember her party, but Elizabeth did not hear.
Clarissa hated how Miss Kilman wanted to convert everyone, and made others feel small.
Clarissa simply wanted people to be themselves. Clarissa pondered love and religion, feeling
that the combination had the power to destroy. She thought of Peter, who was filled with
knowledge of the world, but who loved flimsy women. Big Ben struck three-thirty. Clarissa
noticed the old woman whom she could view in the house adjacent through her window. It
seemed to Clarissa that the ringing of the bell forced the lady to move away from her window.
All was connected. One needed neither religion nor love to make the connections. Another
clock, which always rang slightly after Big Ben, reminded Clarissa to prepare for her party.
Miss. Kilman, filled with anger, tried to calm herself by remembering what religion had
taught her. However, she resented her ugly body and she resented Mrs. Dalloway.
Miss. Kilman lived to eat food and love Elizabeth. Miss. Kilman and Elizabeth reached the
stores. Miss. Kilman wished to look at petticoats but was so flushed with anger and frustration
that she seemed nearly mad in her selection. Then, Miss. Kilman declared that they must have
tea. She ate with intensity, leering at the cakes of others while she demolished the food in
front of her. Elizabeth thought of how peculiar Miss. Kilman was, taking her to teas with
clergymen, lending her books on different professions, complaining of her unhappiness, and
getting along horribly with her mother.

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