A Sense of Proportion Essay -- British Empire, Conflict, War

more than English soldiers died in the Great War than in any new(prenominal) British Empire conflict. Under the best of circumstances, this would have been a difficult burden to bear. Moreover, the manner of fighting shattered all romantic notions of master and elevated warfare - there is nothing noble or gallant about trench warfare or poison gas. Virginia Woolfs Mrs. Dalloway is a novel that speaks to belated trauma and the cruelty of failing to face its realities. ofttimes of this sentiment is expressed by the futile struggles of Septimus Smith, a psychologically injure soldier who has delivered from the Western Front. And, while feeling in assailable of love contri providedes to Septimuss demise, the immediate cause is the intensely evil conduct demonstrated by his doctor, Sir William Bradshaw. Septimus suffers from both a frozen heart and a stricken soul. Since his return from the war , now married for five years to Rezia from Milan, his life has been increasingly drab and unfulfilling, struggling as always to make sense of things, but without real success, except for some sporadic moments of clarity and self understanding. His look and heart remain captives of his war sufferings, which he never really rises above. His regret is ever-present and all encompassing regardless of where he happens to be or what he happens to be doing. Even his relationship with his wife appears to be inconstant and non-existent, content as he is, he appears to talk to himself, to talk to a dead man, on the seat over there (65). Septimuss shell-shocked retainer deteriorates so much in his postwar setting he descends other step into the pithe dropped his head on his hands. Now he had surrendered now other people must help him (90). Dr. Holmes, a kindly, amia... ... foregone to Sir William for a consultation. Her earlier experience with Sir William now connects her to Septimus and also validates the Smiths fears in dealing with Sir William. Sir William, for Clari ssa, is a messenger of terrible news. Oh Thought Clarissa, in the middle of my party, heres death, she thought (183). Sir William is for her a sinister and ill force, and the sight of him curls her up (182). She recognizes him as an extraordinary able (183) doctor, but until now to her obscurely evil, without sex or lust, extremely polite to women, but capable of some indescribable outrage forcing your soul, that was it(184). In Septimus, Clarissa not only sees her testify mortality, but also feels a fleeting and fragile human human beings which questions sin, guilt, evil, death, and redemption. Sir William is clearly the novels metaphor for evil par excellence.