Page 364 - DENG404_FICTION

Fiction

Notes The period that Rezia and Septimus spend together before he fall asleep displays a healthiness
and happiness rarely felt in the novel. The hat—that the husband and wife create together
stands as a metaphor for life and sanity. The hat allows the two to communicate, playfully and
warmly. They discuss people they know and cooperate in the hat’s design and construction.
The pattern that Septimus pieces together for the hat symbolizes the novel itself. The novel,
as a truly modern novel of the post-World War I era, is also constructed of fragments pieced
together. How does one learn about Clarissa’s character, for instance? We learn from Clarissa
herself, but also from comments and thoughts made by others, by memories discovered, and
by symbolic reference. The postmodern novel is a pastiche of reflections, alternating narration,
poetic allusion, direct prose, metaphor, dialogue, and character development. Like the hat,
several layers of emotion, sentiment, logic, character, and motive create the design. The moment
of creation is thus a culmination of life and significance in the novel.
Dr. Holmes, seen as the symbol of the evil of human nature by Septimus, drives the life out
of man. He and Bradshaw represent the figures of conversion and proportion detailed earlier
by Woolf. In their attempts to smooth over Septimus’ very real problems and ultimately, to
separate him from the life connection he still holds, the physicians force Septimus to his death.
Insanity, in Woolf’s eyes, was very near to death. Johnson explains, “In his compulsion to put
people away, Woolf casts Sir William as an agent of death.” As Septimus awakes from his nap,
his thoughts flow directly to Bradshaw’s words of separation. Rezia tries to alleviate Septimus’
fears, but the arrival of a forceful Dr. Holmes makes the fears very real to Septimus. He feels
that he must escape the grasp of Holmes and Bradshaw. Yet, Septimus does not want to die.
Before jumping, he states, “But he would wait till the very last moment. He did not want to
die. Life was good. The sun is hot.” As he jumps, he screams that he will “give it to Holmes.”
Septimus feels pushed into a position where he must save himself from the smothering hold
of conversion and proportion. Woolf writes, “ Rezia saw the large outline of his body standing
dark against the window. So that was Dr. Holmes.” Holmes is a figure, a symbol, of darkness
and destruction whereas Septimus, last alive in the hot sun, reflects ruined innocence and
goodness. His moment in the sun foreshadows Clarissa’s later reaction to Septimus’ death and
the connection that will be solidified between them.

29.2.3 Part II, Sections 5–6

Part II, Section Five Summary
Peter appreciated the ambulance that sped past him as a sign of civility and communal empathy.
He was pleased to watch the unselfish cars move over to let the ambulance pass. He was
afraid to think too long on the morbid subject, but liked that it was his right to entertain such
thoughts when he was alone. His tendency to become emotionally attached to people and
events had always been a flaw. He especially enjoyed the company of women. He thought
back to a time when he and Clarissa rode on top of a bus, and she came up with a transcendental
theory for how she knew people simply by living in a society. Wherever she had been, a piece
of her stayed behind. She diminished the finality of death this way. Peter did notice that her
theory worked for their relationship. The meetings they had experienced over the years were
often painful while happening but later gave Peter food for thought when he least expected
it. Memories of Clarissa would pop up anywhere. His memories of her were mostly at Bourton.
At his hotel, Peter was handed his mail, including a letter from Clarissa. She must have
written it right after he left her house. Her note stated only that she had loved seeing him, but
it annoyed him. He wished she would just leave him alone. He would always feel bitterly that
Clarissa had refused him, though he knew that their marriage would have failed. He thought
of Daisy and his way of charming women. Daisy was only twenty-four and had two young

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