, Mrs. Dalloway, a sweet lady who is married to Richard Dalloway
Richard Dalloway, Clarissa's husband, holds a governmental post
Peter Walsh, A former suitor of Clarissa
Elizabeth Dalloway, the daughter of Richard and Clarissa Dalloway
Lucy, maid in the Dalloway house
Scrope Purvis, the Dalloways' neighbor
Hugh Whitbread, a friend of the Dalloways
Evelyn Whitbread, Hugh Whitbread's wife
Sally Seton, close friend of Clarissa Dalloway
Doris Oilman, Elizabeth Dalloway's tutor
Septum's Warren Smith, an ex-soldier who is shell shocked from the Great War
Lucrezia Warren Smith, Septimus' wife
Evans, friend of Septimus and soldier killed in great War
Daisy, young lady planning to marry Peter Walsh
Sir William Bradshaw, Septimus' physician
Dr. Holmes, a doctor that Septimus and Lucrezia consult
Lady Millicent Bruton, friend of the Dalloways
Clarissa Dalloway is the central figure in the text. She is a sweet woman, about fifty years old, who is frail and weak because she has just recovered from an illness. Clarissa seems to be a quiet and private person. She is not the type of person who shares, rather, Clarissa appears to be cautious of exposing what she thinks or wants. A prime example of Clarissa DallowayÕs private life can be equated with the way she lives in her home with Richard Dalloway. She retreats to the attic and wants to be alone from her husband. Clarissa longs to be a different person and wishes she was much like her friend Sally who is much more daring and is not as reserve as Clarissa. It is also obvious that Clarissa wishes that she had married Peter Walsh. It is as if readers are in the head of Clarissa because her longing for something other than she has is never verbalized throughout the text.
Richard is like his wife in many ways. He is also refined and a private person. With Richard, Clarissa has a sense of stability. Richard is a good provider and protector of his family.
Once Peter visits Clarissa, we learn a lot about him. Clarissa and Peter are opposite in nature, however it is clear that the two of them regret not marrying each other when they are young. When Peter was younger, he told Clarissa that she would be nothing but a hostess and he was exactly right. One of the big events that Clarissa is planning for is the party she is hosting. Peter Walsh foreshadows ClarissaÕs future.
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