Mrs. Dalloway 17

• "But she's extraordinarily attractive, he thought, as, walking across Trafalgar Square ... Straightening himself and stealthily fingering his pocket knife he started after her to follow this woman, this excitement." (p. 52-53)
  

During this excerpt, Peter Walsh follows a woman who is a complete stranger. Within this scene, Peter creates a made-up relationship between him and this anonymous woman, often comparing her to Clarissa. Obviously Peter is still in love with Clarissa because even now, after all these years, is dwelling on her rejection. Woolf displays the major themes of communication and privacy within this scene as Peter obtains private thoughts, rather than communicating actual conversation and emotion.