Mrs. Dalloway: Section 7 Summary - Memories and Disturbance

TLDRIn section 7 of Mrs. Dalloway, Septimus and Rezia experience disturbances in their lives. Septimus is haunted by memories and hallucinations, while Rezia contemplates ending her marriage. The section explores themes of loss, self-pity, and the effects of war on individuals. Through poetic and vivid descriptions, Virginia Woolf portrays the intertwining of beauty and chaos in the characters' lives.

Key insights

🌸Septimus is haunted by memories and believes he can see into the future, experiencing hallucinations and feeling something awful is about to happen.

💍Rezia contemplates ending her marriage and removes her wedding ring, symbolizing her emotional turmoil and dissatisfaction.

🐶Septimus hallucinates and believes a dog in the park is turning into a man, showcasing his deteriorating mental state.

🌺Septimus connects deeply with nature, perceiving the earth moving beneath him and experiencing synesthesia, blending senses like hearing colors.

Septimus' perception of time is skewed, believing he is a prophet who sees truths others cannot. He sings an ode to time and mourns the war dead.

Q&A

What is section 7 of 'Mrs. Dalloway' about?

Section 7 focuses on Septimus' memories and disturbances in his life, as well as Rezia contemplating the end of her marriage.

Why does Septimus believe he can see into the future?

Septimus believes that the heat of June helps him see into the future and has hallucinations and visions that intensify his perception.

Why does Rezia remove her wedding ring?

Rezia removes her wedding ring because she has lost weight and it no longer fits. It also symbolizes her emotional detachment from her marriage.

What is synesthesia, and how does it relate to Septimus?

Synesthesia is the ability to blend senses, like hearing colors or seeing sounds. Septimus experiences synesthesia, perceiving the world in a unique and intense way.

What is the significance of Septimus mourning the war dead?

Septimus mourns the war dead with intensity and believes it takes a colossal power to truly mourn. He feels that human mourning is inadequate for what he has lost.

Timestamped Summary

00:09Section 7 of 'Mrs. Dalloway' begins with Septimus and Rezia experiencing disturbances in their lives.

00:19Septimus is haunted by memories and believes he can see into the future, experiencing hallucinations and feeling something awful is about to happen.

00:32Rezia contemplates ending her marriage and removes her wedding ring, symbolizing her emotional turmoil and dissatisfaction.

00:56Septimus hallucinates and believes a dog in the park is turning into a man, showcasing his deteriorating mental state.

01:03Septimus connects deeply with nature, perceiving the earth moving beneath him and experiencing synesthesia, blending senses like hearing colors.

01:41Septimus' perception of time is skewed, believing he is a prophet who sees truths others cannot. He sings an ode to time and mourns the war dead.

02:58Section 7 concludes, highlighting the complexities of Septimus and Rezia's lives and the intertwining of beauty and chaos.