I like the discussion about Clarissa this week. It really gives me something to think about.
Remember that you will need to finish this discussion March 24. I will NOT be posting a prompt next week during Spring Break.
So, for this week:
At the very beginning of the novel, Clarissa sees these lines from Shakespeare: "Fear no more the heat o' the sun / Nor the furious winter's rages." Then, at the end, when she has left the party after hearing of Septimus's death, and she sees the old lady turn out the light, "the words came back to her, Fear no more the heat of the sun" (186).
What does that mean? Why does Woolf use this reference at the beginning (about 6 pages in) and at the end (about six pages from the end)?
18 comments:
“Fear no more the heat of the sun” seems to mean one thing to Clarissa in the beginning and something else at the end. In the beginning she seems to look at the term as something that motivated her to live life, and it was a positive thing. Toward the end, she did not feel as good about the statement as she did in the beginning. Septimus’s death seemed to depress her and make her reflect on her life, and that wasn’t so good, so it then became a negative thing.
This phrase means that at the beginning of the book she enjoyed her lifestyle and choices she made before. At the end of the story when Septimus dies, she changes some of her point of views on some of the things that happen in her life before Septimus death.
It simply means that she enjoys everything in her little bubble of life at the beginning of the book. It seemed that her look on life was so narrow so she was able to run with "Fear no more the heat of the sun" as a good thing. With Septimus' death and the whole outlook on their lives and she looked back on her life with a more open view and she soon realized it may not be a great thing after all.
Response to DeMetra
Do you think that her depression would have last long? Like if the book went on and we got to know more. I don't think that she would stay depress much longer. I think that once she went back to her normal life she would fade out of depression.
Comment to Nicole
I kinda disagree. I think she was headed where Septimus was headed if the book would have continued. Remember, we did learn that Virginia Woolf killed herself; I think just was an example of what she dealt with beforehand and how she covered things up. I think Septimus' death actually made her accept death as "the answer" to it all and eventually she would give up like he did.
To me the line at the end signifies that Septimus no longer has to worry about the things that make him unhappy in his life. He is finally free. Maybe she mentions it in the beginning because of the idea being nice was there but not yet true. Woolf allows us to see the idea so we know what Septimus/Clarissa is striving for. To me this is also another example of how Septimus and Clarissa could be two parts of a whole. When Septimus dies at the end it is Clarissa who thinks of no longer fearing the heat of the sun, not Septimus; even though the thought is about Septimus being free.
To Nicole:
Even though Clarissa's life on the outside is very narrow, she herself was never that shallow. I do like the idea that the shakespeare reference came from joy in the beginning and then from sadness at the end. I didn't think of it that way originally. But it definitely makes sense. I can see how she would look back and regret decisions because she chose to live her life so shallow and with no real importance. I think Sally and Peter are reminders of what she could have been and could have done.
It is obvious that the pharase, "Fear no more the heat of the sun" has two different meaninings since it was used in the beginning and the end of the book. I think that what it meant in the beginning of the book was that Clarissa was just very open and happy with her life. As if her life is full of joy; however, towards the end, it's like her way of thinking about her life changes directions. Septimus's DEATH is what makes her realize that she is indeed getting old and that eventually she would die as well. So her joyful way of thinking starts to change in a depressing way. Unlike she was able to do in the beginning, Clarissa cannot just NOT "Fear no more the heat of the sun", she seems to actually fear the heat of sun in the end.
-Lis
-Comment to Maegan-
Great way of seeing it that way. I never thought of that: that it is a phrase that goes for BOTH Clarrissa and Septimus. And fearing no more the heat of the sun,as you mentioned, does seem like a great example of how both of them are a part of a whole together. It is something that ties the together, although they know nothing of each other.
-Lis
The author used this phrase at the beginning of the novel to demonstrate Clarissa’s contentment with her carefree life style. However, Clarissa eventually realized that she feared the thought of aging and ultimately death the more she thought about her life. With Septimus’ death and the help of the old woman across the street, Clarissa finally understood that she must learn to live her life without any “fear”. Furthermore, she realized that death is inevitable, and life and death comes hand in hand. At the end of the novel the phrase established that Clarissa was not afraid of death anymore, and she wanted to embrace life with the important people that she loved.
Yes, I agree with you. At the beginning of the novel, she was pretty happy with her life. She had a financially secured family and she had many important people/friends around her daily. Nevertheless, she suddenly realized that she was getting older and soon enough she was going to die, like you said. She was depressed about all of those thoughts, but then she learned to pushed them aside and enjoy the remaining time of her life.
The quote in question by Shakespeare is from Cymbeline and is part of a funeral song. I think that Woolf is presenting Clarissa as almost as she's death inside. She keeps her house freezing almost like a morgue. and Clarissa is particularly cold and heartless. I think perhaps throughout the book while planning her party, Clarissa tries to move away from the dead by living persona while planning and having the party, but after Septimus's death, she's is yet again reminded what a cold place the world was and put her back into her old ways cold ways.
First and foremost, Woolf uses this simple passage in order to hook back to the start of the novel, which bundles it all up. The actual reference though is talking demonstrates Clarissa's views changing in a single day. Or quite possibly, her views are not changing; however, her suppression to certain opinions is removed. Clarissa no longer feels burdened by social views which kept her from stating how she really felt.
I think it means That Clarrisa finds a whole new meaning for her life. She actually is distraught with hearing the death of Septimus. She doesn't want to hear about the outside world where all this bad stuff is happening. She wants to stay in her world where death and pain are not a problem. She doesn't think of the outside world until she hears of Septimus' death. Clarrisa realizes that there are other things going on than just her party. When I day she finds a whole new meaning for her life I mean that she finally understands that there are problems and more important things than her party.
To Robert,
It's quite an interesting research discovery, and the possible deeper meaning to Woolf's reference of Shakespeare. I believe that your observation could be quite correct and give an insight to how Woolf constructed Mrs. Dalloway's character to her audience.
Comment to Jeremy:
Thanks for agreeing, however I think you are also right, in the when she says it at the end of the novel, she is reverting back to how she was at the beginning. Like she made the effort, it didn't work out, so she recalls her coldness and uses the line again.
Response Nicole Cervantez
Yes. Septimus’ death being brought up in the party really seemed like it finally hit Clarissa. She had been staying in her own “bubble,” focusing on her life and everything that had to do with her party. She really didn’t look to outside world. She finally takes into her account that her lifestyle is not very good. She seems to realize that everything today seems to be inconsiderate. It’s like she is getting out of her bubble and realizes that there is important things happening outside of it.
Clarissa seemed to be very happy in the beginning. The phrase was a motivation to her to succeed in life. Later, at the end of the story she starts to think otherwise. When Septimus dies she feels depressed and starts thinking of the negativity in her life.
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