Tristan and Isolde in "The Wasteland"

The second part of "The Burial of The Dead" uses nature imagery to represent death, specifically of a loved one.  The allusion to the opera Tristan and Isolde by the German composer, Richard Wagner, is especially effective as it is a passage about a sailor separated from his love.  In the last line of the section "Od' und leer das Meer"  meaning that the sea is empty and desolate, describes the death of sailors as they go out to sea (Elliot line 42).  This death causes the "hyacinth girl" to feel after she hears that her beloved sailor as if her soul is dying too, which mirrors the death of the main characters in Tristan and Isolde who die for their love.  

Metaphor and Symbol in "The Dead"

In the short story, "The Dead" from James Joyce's The Dubliners, falling snow is a metaphor for the approach of death.  The tenor of the metaphor is death and the vehicle is winter and the snow.  As more snow falls on the characters and winter draws closer, the characters, specifically Gabriel, Aunt Kate, and Aunt Julia, approach their demise.  Similarly, Michael Furey, whom Gretta once loved, passed away soon after shivering in the cold of winter outside of Gretta's house.
Gabriel symbolizes outdated ideals.  During the party, Gabriel upholds several duties as the man of the family such as carving the meat, tending to Mrs. Marlins, and making a speech, which demonstrates his traditionalist role in the family. His concept of marriage as true love between men and women is quickly put down by Lily's bitter remark when he first arrives and is again thwarted by the story of his wife's childhood love after the party.  Miss Ivors' cross examination of Gabriel's political views and Irish loyalty also demonstrates his agitation by change.  

Septimus Smith's Suicide

In Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway, Septimus Warren Smith, who suffers from shell-shock or post traumatic stress disorder, kills himself to escape society and human nature.  He did not want to die, yet he knew he was "condemned to death by human nature" for it was the only way to escape the doctors and conformation (Woolf 96).  To Septimus, the doctors represented human nature, which he felt was the enemy.  If Septimus had attended doctors Holmes and Bradshaw's therapy, he would have surrendered his soul and lost himself, so he, instead, kills his body to preserve his soul.  He sacrifices himself for free thought and free will.

Aristocracy in Mrs. Dalloway

In Mrs. Dalloway, Woolf portrays the British upper class as stereotypically superficial through the thoughts of Clarissa, Richard, Hugh, and Lady Bruton.  The aristocracy feel important and act aloof yet they never do anything of worth.  Clarissa acts as the materialistic wife who obsesses over trivialities.  Clarissa, the perfect hostess, spends the entire day preparing for a party and thinks of flowers and hats more than the war or education.  Also, since she has never worked and has servants to do all the housework, she most likely throws parties to add excitement to her dull life.  Clarissa's husband, Richard, holds an important government position yet barely works.  He has time to go out for lunch during the day and spends the day leisurely.  Richard enjoys his extravagant lunch at Lady Bruton's where he "cherished these romantic views about well-set-up old woman of pedigree" rather than admiring hard work (Woolf 105).  Hugh is the quintessential British gentleman who lacks depth and character.  Hugh has very good manners and social skills yet lacks intelligence for he "thought only of his chicken" at lunch (107).  Lady Bruton cares only of her ancestors and family's accomplishments.  Since her great-grandfather was a general, she finds satisfaction in her ancestors' actions and therefore does nothing of importance herself.  Lady Bruton is not even competent enough to write her own letter but she is still greatly respected among the aristocracy.  Woolf depicts the aristocracy of the time as essentially worthless yet they still rank higher than the hardworking middle class.

Mrs. Dalloway Word

Conflicted

Mrs. Dalloway Question

Would Clarissa ever leave Richard for Peter Walsh or Sally Seton?

Religion in Mrs. Dalloway

Clarissa in Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway, is a very spiritual, yet not religious woman.  Although, "not for a moment did she believe in God," Clarissa loves life and feels she is blessed (Woolf 29).  However, ever since she and her husband, Richard, began sleeping in separate beds, Clarissa finds herself feeling like a nun.  She feels as if she still has "a virginity preserved through childbirth," even though she has children and is therefore not a virgin (31).  Since Clarissa feels her marriage has always lacked passion and sex may not have lived up to her expectations, she feels as if she has retained her spiritual, not physical, virginity, and is as abstinent as a nun.  Shortly, after, she discusses her relationship with Sally Seton, for to Clarissa, only someone as passionate as Sally Seton could take away her purity.  Clarissa does not condone organized religion, especially in her own family, for she does not approve of her daughter, Elizabeth, attending church and reading prayer books with her tutor, Miss Kilman.  Clarissa even suspects that Elizabeth is only interested in religion because she is in love with Miss Kilman.  Although Clarissa herself is attracted to women, she has no pity for Elizabeth's relationship with her tutor.  As a result of both her daughter's and her own experiences, Clarissa  connects religious devotion with lesbian tendencies.