Have you ever heard of the "Butterfly Effect"? The theory stating that the soft beat of a butterfly in the southern tip of Mexico can cause a tidal wave or tropical storm somewhere in the Indian Ocean. In other words it's just a theory that says something small and insignificant (much like a beat of a butterfly's wings) can lead to something much bigger (hence the storm). As I was reading about Septimus I thought of this Effect. While Septimus' story itself had no relation or "real" connection with Clarissa or her party, it did have an importance.
The readers were first introduced to Septimus, in the first few parts of novel, when Clarissa went flower shopping. He just appeared to be a random person who had a strange air about him. One that makes someone want to walk by them quickly and try to forget about them. As we delved into the mind of Septiumus we found out that his mind worked much differently then those around him. A prime example (as explained in a panel presentation on the 13th) was when the car was driving down the road. Everyone around Septimus was intrigued by the sleek car and was in wonder as to who might be seated behind the dark windows, while he was thinking cloudier thoughts mainly focused on the war. Septimus hasn't an easy life, he came to England as a bright and intellectual soul. Finding amazement in life and the simple objects around him (much like our good ole friend Howie). He wanted to be the next big writer much like his idol "William Shakespeare". Little did he know the very place he came to find happiness and prosperity will end up being the place full of dread and ultimately death. Going to war to change who he was to end up just a shell of a man. Functional physically but mentally empty.
Of course as previously stated no one knew that about Septimus the morning the car drove by or when the plane flew over head. Later that day none of them will know that the ambiance of the road would be shattered with the cry of an ambulance carrying the man who could not think. Yet after that moment news got around and soon the creepy man next to the road had a name, Septimus. Suddenly the doctor believed him, wanted to help, the people understood. It made people appreciate their lives more and think about the times they wanted it to all end. Alas the loudest cry for help that was listened to was the one that was silent.
How did the story of Septimus make you feel? Did you see it coming (or if you read the back did you imagine it happening in this way? Any other random thoughts?
Of course as previously stated no one knew that about Septimus the morning the car drove by or when the plane flew over head. Later that day none of them will know that the ambiance of the road would be shattered with the cry of an ambulance carrying the man who could not think. Yet after that moment news got around and soon the creepy man next to the road had a name, Septimus. Suddenly the doctor believed him, wanted to help, the people understood. It made people appreciate their lives more and think about the times they wanted it to all end. Alas the loudest cry for help that was listened to was the one that was silent.
How did the story of Septimus make you feel? Did you see it coming (or if you read the back did you imagine it happening in this way? Any other random thoughts?
I really liked your inclusion of the butterfly effect, I thought it fits well with the recurring theme of flowers throughout Mrs. Dalloway. As to how the story of Septimus made me feel, there isn’t only one emotion I can identify when I think back on his story. I feel empathetic in that he ended his life not wanting to die, shocked yet also understanding why Virginia Woolf killed his character. It’s sort of a mix of everything because even alive Septimus is a character I never fully understood and probably never will.
ReplyDeleteI found your thoughts on how people would react to Septimus's death interesting. Although, I wonder if people will understand Septimus or continue to label him as a freak or coward for throwing his life away. Septimus's story made me feel sad, especially how he ended his life even though he didn't want to die. On some level, I wanted Spetimus to survive but his death wasn't a complete shock.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first saw Septimus in the book I didn't think much of him I thought he might have been a small part of the book who we only saw once and was representing the torments of war. However as we learnt more of him we discovered the terrible medical treatment he was given I saw him as Woolf making a comment on how bad psychological illnesses were treated. I never really expected Septimus to end his own life especially considering this happened to be the random day Clarissa was hosting a party. However he was a great character who added a lot to the book.
ReplyDeleteI think it is sort of the opposite of the butterfly effect, Septimus' suicide (something big) caused Clarissa and Peter and many other people to think about the world around them. It caused an ambulance to be dispatched, and horrified, scared, and saddened other people. The butterfly effect would be Peter making a comment, causing someone else to say something, causing a disturbance eventually, then someone gets hurt, an ambulance is dispatched, the idea of the ambulance causes a reaction in someone close to Septimus, Holmes hears about it, comes to check on him, and then Septimus kills himself.
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