ON THE IMPRESSIONIST TECHNIQUES IN VIRGINIA WOOLF’S MRS. DALLOWAY

ABSTRACT

Mrs. Dalloway is one of Virginia Woolf’s masterpieces that manages to expose the essence of the entire life of Clarissa Dalloway and even strives to probe into the universal nature of human relations through the representation of one seemingly ordinary day in June in post- World War I England. Existing studies of the novel mostly concentrate on the use of “Stream of Consciousness”, Woolf’s outlook over life and death, the temporal and spatial relationship in the novel. Yet Mrs. Dalloway also displays an abundance of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist techniques in its narration, which is really unique in its form and worth meticulous investigation. This thesis explores the theme from the following respects:
The introduction offers the general information about Virginia Woolf, in terms of her life experience and her connection with Impressionism, critics’ major comments on her works and her contribution to the enrichment of literature.
The first chapter illustrates the link between Virginia Woolf and Impressionism. The artistic movements and revolution in the late 19th century are introduced to usher in the emergence of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. By referring to Woolf’s family background and her connection with the Bloomsbury Group, her exposure to and appreciation and application of the impressionist techniques is dealt with.
The second chapter specifies the Impressionist techniques used in Mrs. Dalloway, focusing on four basic techniques – the use of various colors, simplification, multiple perspectives and distortion of forms, and analyzing their respective functions through typical excerpts from the novel.
The third chapter reveals the overall effects of the impressionist techniques in an attempt to shed light on the intimate connection between form and reality as well as to demonstrate Virginia Woolf’s success in bringing out a sense of wholeness of life.
At last, the author makes a summary of the thesis and looks into the significance of Virginia Woolf’s efforts in building a close relationship between the description of forms in her novel and the ultimate reality, or the meaning of life, beneath these forms enveloped in the wholeness of life. Moreover, an understanding of this relationship holds great value to our modern life as well.

Keywords: Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism