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Suffering
Suffering takes many forms in <em>Mrs Dalloway</em>. People may be physically ill with vague but debilitating problems, or be deeply, emotionally damaged, or somewhere between. Although almost everyone in the novel is suffering, everyone feels that they're in it on their own. Miss Kilman suffers partly by choice and as a political expression, making martyrdom part of her personality. Rezia’s suffering comes from empathy for her husband and a deep sense of isolation. Peter suffers above all from the past, from the fact that Clarissa never loved him and the reality that he has made bad choices with women and in his career. Septimus ultimately kills himself to end his mad suffering. Does this mean that suffering is universal and unavoidable? What do you think?
If Rezia had been more open about her suffering, it might have helped Septimus know that he wasn't alone.
Richard has no idea that Clarissa is suffering.
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