Isolation in "Mrs. Dalloway"

There are plenty of themes that are brought to the table in Mrs. Dalloway. The novel makes commentary on both social class and relationships--but what about isolation itself? Even though Woolf makes a point of trying to understand characters through their interconnected interactions, there is a definite sense of isolation that many in Mrs. Dalloway experience.

It's very clear from the beginning of the novel that Septimus feels very disconnected from the world around him; he's cut off from his own emotions (he felt nothing at the news that his good friend had died), he struggles to understand and relate to Rezia, and he feels as if he has been cornered by humanity. In the case of the advertising airplane, which originally come across to me as an experience that was unifying for the citizens, Septimus is stricken with an entirely different feeling; he feels as if the words are trying to communicate something to him specifically, and feels enlightened. He's not connected to the people that are surrounding him, especially Rezia, who, upon seeing the word made by the plane, becomes depressed with Septimus' condition. It only serves to further isolate Septimus from the one person who would understand him best.

An obvious example of Septimus' isolation is the entire scene that leads up to Septimus ending his life. It starts out with paranoia rising up in Septimus Holmes was coming upstairs. Holmes would burst open the door. Holmes would say, ‘In a funk, eh?’ Holmes would get him. But no; not Holmes; not Bradshaw.") and continues with Septimus hurriedly trying to find ways to escape. Escape is key. Despite the fact that Septimus is surrounded by people that want to help him, such as Rezia and Bradshaw (supposedly) and Holmes (also supposedly), these forces are what eventually cause Septimus to permanently recede in on himself.

This is what I think makes Mrs. Dalloway incredibly ironic. Despite the focus on relationships, the characters seem to feel very, very alone, or unable to connect in a way that is "normal."

Richard. Richard ponders ways that he could say I love you to Clarissa, and the prospect unnerves him; it's something that he feel should be so easy and simple to do, but in the end, can't find the ability to muster the words. Instead, he relies on the bouquet of flowers to hopefully get this point across to Clarissa. Though their relationship seems to "work" without much error, and the gesture seems to be well-received by Clarissa, it's still something that should be questioned. Is Mrs. Dalloway really focusing on how minute interactions between people make a significant impact and show character, or is the novel just a conglomeration of isolated individuals desperately trying (and failing) to connect with each other?

Clarissa's parties would seem to indicate the latter. The goal of parties is to ultimately bring people together, but think of what sorts of people have been brought together: individuals that feel isolated. Clarissa isn't having a great time at her own party, and neither is Peter. She takes the time to make her rounds to all of the disjointed couples and people that have turned up, but no one really seems to be enjoying themselves.

It's funny--in the end, Clarissa ended up feeling the most sincere connection with Septimus (who she didn't know!) and an old woman she had seen through a window. Mrs. Dalloway is just a cycle of isolation, and the bigger the facade the characters seem to put on, the more lonely they end up being.