- "How extraordinary it was, strange, yes, touching, to see the old lady ... that old lady, she meant, whom she could see going from chest of drawers to dressing-table. She could still see her." (p. 127)
Throughout the novel, Virginia Woolf creates a minor character, the old lady, who, despite her role has a significant impact on Clarissa. Clarissa thought it "was fascinating to watch her, moving about, that old lady, crossing the room, coming to the window." (p. 186) Clarissa respected the woman for her independence, but also felt sympathetic as she believed the old lady was very lonely. During various scenes in the novel, Clarissa intently watches the old woman and notices the privacy of her character. While Clarissa is hosting an extravagant party, the old woman is tinkering around her house all by herself. The old lady has significance in the novel as Virgina Woolf intends for Clarissa's character to picture herself in the future. Although Clarissa claims she is fascinated, deep inside she is most likely very frightened of the concept of getting older (eventual death) and the loneliness that accompanies age.
Photo Credit:
Old Woman by the Window. Photograph.
Flickr. Web. 30 Sept. 2009. http://farm1.static.flickr.com/136/375075892_f285827fdf.jpg?v=0.
nice connections here
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