Mental health is a large aspect of Mrs. Dalloway and is represented by a character who would be much more relatable during the time period that Woolf wrote the novel in: A war veteran. He seems to be inflicted with PTSD and depression, and the reader sees how he is trapped in his own mind. I find Woolf's portrayal of Septimus and his doctor very representative of the initial introduction of mental health as an idea in society. Like Septimus, war veterans who were "shell-shocked" were not taken seriously and doctors had a similar reaction as Septimus's doctor did (Acting like there wasn't much wrong).
One similarity that we briefly discussed in class was that between Mrs. Dalloway and "The Yellow Wallpaper". Both of these stories discuss the lack of awareness surrounding mental illness and give similar descriptions of the madness that takes over the victims. After reading this novel, I wonder if people were less ignorant about mental illness and more accepting of the fact that the mind must be treated with care, just like the body.
I think one of the most interesting parts of this is taking how Virginia Woolf chooses to portray Septimus, the war veteran, and his struggles with mental health and how she chooses to portray Clarissa's struggles with mental health. While there is definitely a solid reason for Septimus to struggle with mental health (from a 2020 perspective), why should Clarissa struggle with mental health herself, everything is perfect for her, right? This book has lessons about taking care of people's mental health far beyond its years, it's interesting to think that arguing "shellshock" was a serious issue used to be controversial.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this novel was a cure-all where suddenly people realized what was going on . Mental health care still isn't perfect in the 21st century, so it's obvious that change takes a while. However, I do think this novel planted a seed in people's mind where they could start considering mental health as a valid concern.
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