The Current Events of the Past
In
this post I would like to consider the role of the “governing class” in
relation to current events of the time period, which threaten their authority
at home and abroad. A view of this governing class from its own members
provides a very different and interesting perspective if the reader understands
the significant events taking place in the world during the time the novel is
being written. This novel takes place on a day in June 1923. The 1920s were are
turbulent time in British politics with the rise of the Labor party which would
succeed to the point of having a prime minister in 1924. This was all leading
to the rise of socialism in the later part of the decade. Her readers in 1925
would have been entirely aware of the events but today it is important to look
back on them. On page 108 the actuality of the takeover by the Labour
Government is realized. “Richard’s first duty was to his country, but it was a
fine face, she said; and all the papers were ready for Richard down at
Aldmixton whenever the time came; the Labour Government she meant.” (p. 108) Richard
has already made plans for what he will do after their role in governing has
been removed. He is planning to write a history of the Bruton family in all of
his then excessive free time. This is a certain inevitableness that would have
warmed the hearts of the Labour Movement had they read it.
At this time, five years after the
war, the Indian independence movement is well underway after 1.3 million Indian
soldiers and laborers served in Europe. After helping out the British to such
an extreme degree the Indians wanted independence. When Lady Bruton cries “Ah,
the news from India!” (p. 108) she is most likely referring to the instability
at this time. The Times was full of extreme, most likely false, information to
incite anger into the British public, including a statement where the British
imperial police were being “overwhelmed
and brutally tortured by the villagers” (from the issue on the 2nd
of June). Later on Peter says, “He would go to Clarissa’s party, because he
wanted to ask Richard what they were doing in India – the conservative
duffers.” (p. 157) He has been living in India for some time and this
instability would be of upmost importance to him. Understanding the cultural
context that this novel was written in helps the reader understand the novel
better as a whole.
I thoroughly agree that one should know the cultural context of a novel which, like Mrs. Dalloway, deals with so many then-current issues of the time (e.g. PTSD pushback, women's changing roles, etc.) I also think it's especially interesting to note that London in the early 1920s was moving on track to a more liberal (Labour) viewpoint politically as the Dalloways are most definite Conservatives. Thus, an American today can equivocate, and even understand, reading about the changing world from the Dalloways' (or at least Richard's) point of view to reading a Republican's writings today. It is very interesting to see how history repeats even in politics.
ReplyDeleteI agree that historical context is important to understanding this novel, especially Peter's character, but interestingly, Richard doesn't seem affected by any of the contexts you pointed out, even though he serves in Parliament. To best understand Clarissa's character, oddly, none of this context is in the remotest bit important; the only thing that's important is that we know it doesn't affect her, which shows her and her MP husband's disconnect.
ReplyDeleteI think it's cool that you researched the background information on this. It brings light in particular to characters like Richard and Peter and even Sally. Actually, the fact that the novel doesn't openly discuss the politics of the time seems almost as if Virginia Woolf is trying to blindside the readers much as Clarissa is completely unaware of what is going on on the international scale. Knowing how foreign affairs are affecting England's politics adds a whole new dimension; though I think there's something to be said for reading it initially unaware (from a perspective like Clarissa's) and coming back to fill in the blanks (so you can understand Peter).
ReplyDeleteWow, I never considered the historical context of that time period, outside of the immediate effects of WW1's European campaign. That extra bit of information about India helps to give context to more of the characters.
ReplyDeleteI do think that knowing the historical context of when the book was written is important but it doesn't make much of a mention in the story from Clarissa's POV. It seems as if she is ignorant of the politics outside her small bubble of upper class society and even the politics regarding her husband. Although the fact about the Indian independence movement does explain where Peter is coming from.
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