Women and Society - Mrs. Dalloway

In the last section of the book, one passage reveals interesting thoughts about the role of women in society at that time. This occurs on pages 130-137 as Elizabeth spends time with Miss. Kilman. Miss Kilman first mentions to Elizabeth that all professions are open to women of her generation on page 130. “Law, medicine, politics, all professions are open to women of your generation, said Miss Kilman.” This statement made me think about the “New Woman” which we often discuss in class. This is very forward thinking for a woman in this time period.
The conversation also shifts to the role appearance and social class for women in society. Miss. Kilman seems upset that she is never asked to parties due to her “plain” appearance and low social standing. Elizabeth, on the other hand, is bothered that people “would compare her to lilies, and she had to go to parties, and London was so dreary compared with being alone in the country with her father and the dogs,” (135). Elizabeth’s beauty and social standing make her feel required to attend parties even though she would rather be alone in the country. This shows that money and appearance are the basis for a woman’s social status during this time.
I also noticed the passage that describes Elizabeth’s thoughts about possible careers on page 136. She admits that she likes the idea of people working and helping people who were ill. She describes in detail the possibilities of her future, but then quickly dismisses them with the thought, “But she was, of course, rather lazy. And it was much better to say nothing about it. It seemed so silly,” (137). I was disappointed when I read this because it seemed that Elizabeth had the passion to break the mold of a woman’s typical role in society at that time. Instead, she describes her thoughts as silly and returns her focus to her mother’s upcoming party.