Clarissa Dalloway

Clarissa Dalloway is the main character in Mrs Dalloway. Clarissa is 51 years old and a member of the upper class. She is married to Richard Dalloway and together they have one child, Elizabeth. Clarissa has planned a party for the night and has invited prominent members of high society. Through flashbacks and the commentary of other characters we come to understand how radically different Clarissa is to her past self. Clarissa’s present identity is consumed by insecurity and a desire to craft a respectable status. Clarissa has experienced significant grief and loss in her life. Her sister and mother died when Clarissa was a child, but these events are not detailed or explored in the novel. This omission positions the reader to focus on Clarissa’s identity and the impacts of her suffering.