Dipak Kurmi
As Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway marks its centenary, the novel continues to captivate readers with its intricate portrayal of post-World War I British society. While much attention has been given to its exploration of consciousness and the societal roles of its characters, a less examined yet significant aspect is the novel's nuanced engagement with the British Empire, particularly its relationship with India.
Set in June 1923, Mrs Dalloway unfolds over a single day in London, capturing the inner lives of its characters through a stream-of-consciousness narrative. Clarissa Dalloway, the protagonist, prepares for a party, reflecting on her past choices and relationships. Among these reflections is Peter Walsh, a former suitor who has spent the past five years in India. Peter's return to London and his interactions with Clarissa bring to the fore the complexities of personal and imperial histories.
Peter's experiences in India are emblematic of the British colonial enterprise. He hails from a "respectable Anglo-Indian family which for at least three generations had administered the affairs of a continent," positioning him within the colonial administrative class . Despite his professed disdain for "India, and empire, and army," Peter acknowledges moments when "civilization, even of this sort, seemed dear to him as a personal possession," revealing the ambivalence and entanglement of personal identity with imperial structures .
Clarissa's decision to marry Richard Dalloway, a Conservative Member of Parliament, instead of Peter, reflects the societal expectations and political affiliations of the time. Had she chosen Peter, she might have become an ICS officer's wife in India, embodying the role of a memsahib within the colonial framework. This counterfactual scenario underscores the pervasive influence of the Empire on personal choices and life trajectories.
The novel subtly critiques the British aristocracy's detachment from the realities of imperial governance. Characters like Lady Bruton, who is deeply concerned with the Empire, particularly India, and Hugh Whitbread, who serves at the court, represent the complacency and superficial engagement of the upper classes with colonial affairs . Their discussions and concerns are more about maintaining appearances than addressing the substantive issues of imperial rule.
Woolf's personal connections to the Empire further inform the novel's subtext. Her husband, Leonard Woolf, served in the Ceylon Civil Service from 1904 to 1911. His experiences led to a profound disillusionment with imperialism, influencing his later political activism and writings, including The Village in the Jungle, which critiques colonial administration . Leonard's insights likely contributed to the novel's nuanced portrayal of the Empire's impact on individual lives.
Additionally, Woolf's association with Lytton Strachey, a fellow member of the Bloomsbury Group, adds another layer to the novel's engagement with imperial themes. Strachey's family had deep ties to British colonial administration, with relatives serving in high-ranking positions in India. His critical stance on Victorian values and imperialism, evident in works like Eminent Victorians, resonates with the novel's subtle interrogation of British society's complicity in sustaining the Empire.
Times Higher Education (THE)
In The Waves, another of Woolf's novels, the character Percival embodies the idealized British hero who meets his end in India, dying from a fall from a horse. This portrayal reflects the romanticized yet tragic view of the Empire's reach and its consequences on individual destinies . The recurring motif of characters associated with India meeting untimely ends suggests a critique of the imperial project and its human costs.
While Mrs Dalloway does not overtly focus on imperialism, its subtle references to India and the Empire permeate the narrative, revealing the inescapable presence of colonial concerns in British society. Through the characters' reflections, relationships, and societal roles, Woolf illuminates the pervasive influence of the Empire on personal identities and social structures.
As we commemorate the centenary of Mrs Dalloway, it is imperative to recognize and explore these undercurrents that enrich the novel's tapestry. Woolf's nuanced engagement with the British Empire, particularly India, invites readers to reflect on the complexities of personal and national histories, and the enduring legacies of colonialism in shaping modern consciousness.
(The writer can be reached at dipakkurmiglpltd@gmail.com)
