It is appropriate to believe that Virginia Woolf was well read in Christian literature due to her intellectual opposition to organized religion. Throughout Mrs. Dalloway, religion plays a vital role in the development of plot structures and characters. Most importantly, however, is the religious attributes encompassing Septimus Warren Smith. Recurring Christian imagery surrounding Septimus calls to mind the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. These images allow readers to draw the conclusion that Septimus works as a Christ figure within the context of the novel. Through this device, Woolf creates a tunnel through which she incorporates her political and religious views. By associating Septimus with Jesus Christ, Virginia Woolf is not only able to comment on religion's relationship to humanity and reject the Christian belief that suicide is the "sin beyond redemption," but also save Clarissa from a life that would have ultimately ended in self-slaughter.
The parallel between Septimus" progression to death and Jesus" journey to crucifixion is apparent through Woolf's visual and textual representations of condemnation, whippings, and the stigmata. The early stages of Jesus" crucifixion are much like Septimus" experiences early in the day.
"Jesus was brought before the Sanhedrin and Caiaphas, the High Priest. A soldier struck Jesus across the face for remaining silent when questioned by Caiaphas. The palace guards then blindfolded Him and mockingly taunted him to identify them as they each passed by, spat on Him, and struck Him in face" (Davis).
Like Jesus, Septimus is blindfolded (metaphorically): "He had only to open his eyes; but a weight was on them; a fear." (69). Also, Septimus, like Jesus, is surrounded by herds of people he finds threatening and seeks refuge when he exclaims, "Away from people- (we) must get away from people" (25), whereupon he jumps up and runs to seek shelter on a bench beneath a tree.
Septimus has gone through significant trauma throughout his life. ... Because of this, Septimus finds beauty in small, inert things. ... Septimus feels frightened from the reality around him, " real things were too exciting. ... Both Septimus and Clarissa see death as a type of defiance. ... Septimus believes death is an answer to his constant torture from society. ...
The vast amount of parallels is used in Arcadia to convey the idea that is mention by Septimus. ... Septimus by using his wit and irony is able to praise Mr Chater when all the time he is really mocking him. Such double entendre is used in Septimus's dialogue for Septimus's own and the audience's entertainment at the expense of Thomasina's innocence and Chater's blindness. ... Septimus uses Plautus as a paperweight but has to occasionally reposition it ordering to sit. ... In dramatic fashion, Stoppard illustrates Bernard's extreme preferment of humanity to scienc...
Septimus is like his roses, "almost dead already"(121). ... Septimus, on the other hand, has lost the ability to feel. ... Rezia tries in vain to pull Septimus back. ... Clarissa and Septimus are not successful in their marriage. ... Clarissa and Septimus share repressed homosexuality. ...
Although on the surface just a movie about an innocent man coping with life in prison, The Shawshank Redemption actually incorporates important issues, such as religion versus morality, into its plot. ... And so in this way, The Shawshank Redemption does a masterful job of making the point that morality does not lie in religion but in the hearts of men. The Shawshank Redemption is not all about religion and morality. ... Another important, yet less obvious trait that made The Shawshank Redemption such a masterpiece was the music. ... Through its profound messages of religion and moralit...
Lastly, the love story of Lucrezia and Septimus is kind of sad. Septimus is a World War I veteran. ... Despite all that stress, she still cares for Septimus and makes every possible effort to help him heal. ... She knows that doctors lack the kind of care Septimus needs. ... Even though she is not happy at all, she is putting his Septimus's happiness ahead of her's. ...
In Mrs Dalloway There is a complex alignment between Septimus and Clarissa. ... Septimus loses a grip on his feelings. ... However Septimus never regains an emotional attachment to the world. ... Septimus has experienced death and destruction. ... Clarissa accepts the constricts of society while Septimus does not. ...
In Mrs Dalloway There is a complex alignment between Septimus and Clarissa. ... Septimus loses a grip on his feelings. ... However Septimus never regains an emotional attachment to the world. ... Septimus has experienced death and destruction. ... Clarissa accepts the constricts of society while Septimus does not. ...
Western society teaches us, through religion and custom, that suicide is a negative thing, while in these two novels the protagonists" suicides are positive for them themselves and for readers because it highlights the negative elements of their society. ... Dalloway, by Virginia Woolf, Septimus is viewed as one of the only, if not the only, successful characters in the novel. ... "So [Septimus] was in their power. ... Some readers might think that Septimus fails himself and his wife by taking his life. ... The reason for this portrayal of success lies in the fact that Septimus took contro...
The character Septimus didn't appear to have any purpose in the storyline. ... Septimus did not have a well defined role in the film. ... His purpose was unclear, the story just jumped from Clarissa to Septimus. ... If Septimus was a parallel of Clarissa, then his character was played well, being that he, like Clarissa, constantly thought of the past, and never the future. ... Septimus" purpose is unclear, and the plot is made for those who don't take things for what they are and leave them at that. ...
