Mrs. Dalloway Blogpost

 The Plight of Septimus Smith

A look at Shell Shock in Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway

Jacob River Orr

In Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway, the character of Septimus interests me. As a veteran of the First World War Septimus is suffering the psychological effects of combat; he undergoes the trauma of so-called “shell shock.” Shell shock itself is an early understanding of what we today refer to as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (Jones).

A man undergoing treatment for Shell Shock.
I cannot help but associate his thousand-yard-stare here
with how Septimus must have looked in the park scene.

    The phrase “shell shock” was actually coined by soldiers fighting in World War One and often manifested as Throughout the novel, Septimus demonstrates a range of symptoms associated with shell shock, such as anxiety, depression, and hallucinations. He has a tendency to withdraw from social situations, often finding solace in nature and his own thoughts. This is best illustrated during a scene early in the novel where he and Rezia spend time at the park. Septimus seems lost in the image of the swaying trees above him and is no doubt lost in the memory of his experiences.

Speaking of Rezia, Septimus’ relationships are complicated by his condition. While Rezia is clearly devoted to him, his ability to reciprocate those feelings is hampered by the difficulties in communication PTSD or shell shock can induce. Septimus's mental state is further complicated by his guilt over the death of his friend Evans and by the lack of understanding and empathy of the medical professionals he encounters. This conflict with medical professionals, and indeed the struggle against his affliction, ultimately culminates in Septimus' leap to freedom (and out of a window) at the end of the book.

    Given that Virginia Woolf suffered from significant mental health issues during her lifetime (thank you Mira for the presentation) it is no wonder she would approach mental illness in a respectful and informed fashion. Through the character of Septimus, Woolf suggests that shell shock is not a sign of weakness, but a serious mental illness that deserves our understanding and support.

    With Mrs. Dalloway coming out during the Interwar period, a time when the psychology of warfare was both poorly understood and undergoing intense study, it is fascinating to see this inside perspective on the matter. Few times in history do we get to see such trends spelled out for us by those living through them.

Jones, E. (2012, June 1). Shell shocked. Monitor on Psychology, 43(6).             https://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/06/shell-shocked