- William Shakespeare
Cymbeline Act 4, Scene 2
In Virginia Woolf's, Mrs. Dalloway, Septimus Smith and Clarissa Dalloway seem to be entirely different on the surface. Their characters are first merged by their enjoyment of this quote from Cymbeline. The "sun" is meant to represent death, and, throughout the course of the book, both characters spend an extensive amount of time thinking about their existence. Our first impression of Clarissa's thoughts about death is her anxiety surrounding aging and time. Having endured the deaths of her parents and sister, she seems to be extremely aware of the dangers of life and inevitability of death. However, Clarissa also appreciates the beauty of the world, as seen by her pleasant walk to buy flowers. The line from Shakespeare helps her to accept mortality as a comfort instead of something to be feared.
Septimus, similarly, is portrayed as appreciating the simple beauty of the world while also holding strong feelings towards the corrupt nature of human society, which is a factor in his suicidal ideation. In one scene, he is walking in the park when he notices the breath-like movement of the trees, only to be sent into a spiral by the noisy sounds of human life around him. In the last moments before his suicide, Septimus expresses that he does not want to die. Instead he feels as though death is the only escape from Holmes, who he sees as the epitome of human evil. Just before he jumps, Septimus thinks to himself, "life was good...the sun hot"(Woolf 146). This appears to reinforce his desire to live, which makes his suicide additionally meaningful. His decision is not an act of cowardice, as Holmes suggests, but a final act of defiance against oppression.
These storylines meet once again when Clarissa learns of Septimus's death. Initially, she is offended that the mention of death is brought into her party, which is an important event for her. But, as time progresses, she experiences an eerie connection to Septimus in his final minutes. Clarissa recognizes his decision just as Septimus had--an act of defiance. She is able to sympathize with his struggles, his hatred of Sir William, and his criticism of society. The news of Septimus's suicide prompts Clarissa to remember the line from Cymbeline, and she seems to further embrace the beauty of death. Thus, these two characters are able to find some semblance of peace, in life and in death.
