Intersubjectivity and the Meeting of Minds in Mrs. Dalloway
Intersubjectivity and the Meeting of Minds in Mrs. Dalloway
Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway offers a unique perspective on its many facets of developing character, but perhaps one of the most fascinating is the weaving of multiple consciousness throughout the book, and the even more remarkable picture of when these consciousnesses collide. I think a particularly key use of this technique was in the scene between Peter and Clarissa reuniting after years apart. As Peter Walsh walked into the house he began thinking, “She’s looking at me, he thought, a sudden embarrassment coming over him, though he had kissed her hands. Putting his hand into his pocket, he took out a large pocket knife and half opened the blade…‘How heavenly it is to see you again!’ she exclaimed. He had his knife out. That’s so like him, she thought,” (Woolf 39). On the surface level, this dialogue is already quite enjoyable to read and dissect. From a glance, a reader with no context can very well see how close these two friends are, just in the way they are familiar with eachother and their habits. This knowing of eachother is apparent in simply reading the text, but the part that makes it especially endearing is the background we have on the two characters: how Peter occupies Clarissa’s thoughts while Clarissa occupies Peter’s, in complex and deep ways. In Clarissa’s head, Peter is the unwanted judge behind her every action. In Peter’s mind, Clarissa is a path untaken, and a reminder of Peter’s contempt for elite English society.
Yet, In this simple dialogue, we see two pieces of a puzzle, the perceptions that each character share for another, fit together in almost perfect harmony: Peter’s perception of Clarissa fitting the in-the-flesh version of Clarissa, as Clarissa’s image of Peter settling in nicely on the real version of Peter. Although this perfect fit seems reasonable at the beginning of the dialogue, there starts to be a sort of discrepancy in their understandings of eachother: “And with a curious ironical sweetness, he smiled as he placed her in this ridiculous way before Clarissa. (All the same, he is in love, thought Clarissa),” (Woolf 44). In this scene, Peter is trying to get a reaction out of Clarissa, perhaps jealousy, while Clarissa misunderstands Peter as being deeply, passionately, in love, and attempting to showcase the depth of his love as if to brag to Clarissa.
While these misunderstandings can be taken as a negative sign -of friends growing apart, or people who simply do not know eachother, I believe the versions of someone in one’s head do not have to be perfect, in fact it’s better if they aren’t. Mrs. Dalloway highlights a core aspect of intersubjectivity: the clash of consciousness. Though it can be quite satisfying in seeing a character’s view of another line up exactly as they are, as we initially are shown in the beginning of the scene, that is not the point of seeing into two consciousnesses, two minds interact. Instead, while we can enjoy the moments and points of overlap between characters, it is the lost pieces of the puzzle, those thoughts and perceptions that belong solely to the character, and us, the reader, that truly make the story of Clarissa Dalloway not just about her, but a dynamic world in which Clarissa is the focal point to which all other characters place their assumptions and perceptions. Woolf highlights that the beauty of intersubjectivity lies not in moments of perfect overlap between characters, but the delightful disharmony that results from each character’s unique viewpoint and place within the world.
I find the idea very interesting how different views of the same person matter and create something better than a unified view of it.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your point that the fact that Virginia Woolf exposing us to the character's around Clarissa's thoughts makes this book so much more entertaining to read. You really nailed this topic on the head and there really isn't anything else to add. Overall great post!
ReplyDeleteYour point about a reader being able to tell how close Peter and Clarissa are without having any background context speaks volumes as to how Woolf wrote the book. The overlapping of these two characters IS the lost puzzle piece that readers didn't even know was missing. Harmony between the characters or not, they compliment each other to a great value that you highlight very well.
ReplyDeleteI like this take on the curious combination of connection and disconnection we see in the scenes where two characters interact, while Woolf narrates interior monologue and exterior dialogue from both characters. We might expect to get a more cynical take on conversation--two phonies, lying to each other, flattering, paying false compliments--but instead we get a mix, where (in the case you look closely at) Clarissa and Peter both seem to "recognize" each other's deeper characters right away. Clarissa thinking to herself about Peter's old habit of fiddling with his knife is a great example--all readers understand the "here he goes again with his damn knife!" response. But we also get these characters THINKING their assumptions are confirmed when they are face to face, but being WRONG (as when Peter thinks "here she sits, mending her dress, just as she does every other day," when in fact we know that Clarissa mending her dress is NOT typical, and she is doing it instead of Lucy because Lucy is so busy with the party-prep). I agree that this back-and-forth is "fun" to read, and I really wish we'd had time to walk through this exchange in detail in class. The earlier scene with Clarissa and Hugh Whitbread in the park introduces the technique, but she really drives it home in the reunion with Peter and Clarissa. The whole way he brings up his engagement is, as you note, so strategic and deliberate, designed to get some kind of response from her--and yet as readers, we see that she initially has a reflex to think he MIGHT be saying he's "in love" with HER! She would never have admitted this aloud, and she doesn't necessarily WANT him to (again) declare his love, but she also seems just a tad disappointed and maybe even jealous, at least of the fact that Peter is still enjoying some of that old drama.
ReplyDeleteNice post Ella! I like how you focus on the differing POVs of Clarissa and Peter. The differing opinions and details they provide make their scenes much more colorful and real. I believe Woolf added this intersubjectivity intentionally. Like Baker's The Mezzanine, Woolf strives to convey the authenticity/realness of Clarissa through active events involving her and others around her. By gathering the views of everyone in these events, Woolf can paint a fuller, more colorful scene and image of Clarissa.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I like how you highlight the way Woolf uses the characters around Clarissa to show their connections with each other. I think it helps amplify the differences between characters and how they interact with each other.
ReplyDeleteAwesome analysis Ella! I find your perspective on the Peter and Clarissa tea scene is incredibly eye-opening. I completely agree with your point that the beauty of intersubjectivity lies in the "delightful disharmony" between characters because it does allow the readers to engage with the story on deeper levels. It makes the characters more believable and allows us to suspend our disbelief and fully immerse ourselves into their multifaceted world.
ReplyDeleteHi Ella! I completely agree that Mrs. Dalloway allows readers to gain multi-faceted views of all characters through their interpretations of themselves and others' interpretations of them. We often find that people tend to view themselves in a much different light than others, and Mrs. Dalloway offers some insight into why. Overall, great post!
ReplyDeleteThis makes me think about the way other characters relate to Clarissa, particularly Sally Seton and Richard, both of whom have their own incomplete views of her. We get these fascinating glimpses of how each person’s internal world shapes their view of Clarissa, yet none of them, even Clarissa herself, seems to fully grasp who she is or how she fits into their lives.
ReplyDeleteI think that the discrepancy between intentions and understandings within interactions lends a sense of realism to the novel. In reality, within the context of interpersonal interactions, it is exceedingly rare for all parties to perfectly understand each other's thoughts and emotions. Woolf offers a unique window into this social information disequilibrium through scenes like the one you mentioned with Clarissa and Peter.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that Woolf's technique of showing us the thoughts of characters around Clarissa adds so much depth and makes the story even more engaging. It allows us to piece together relationships and dynamics in a way that's so rewarding as a reader
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