Echoes of Ink

Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway masterfully captures the blurring of past and present, presenting time as fragmented yet continuous in the minds of its characters. Early in the novel (around page 8), Clarissa steps out into London, her mind drifting between past reflections and the present, as she prepares for her evening party. She has recently recovered from an illness that forced her into bed rest and changed her life. Now, enjoying the fresh air and the surrounding city, she looks forward to hosting a gathering that will bring people together. At this moment, "She felt very young; at the same time unspeakably aged. She sliced like a knife through everything; at the same time was outside, looking on." This duality—feeling both young and old, present yet detached—exemplifies how Woolf explores the fluidity of time, with Clarissa existing in multiple moments of her life at once. She feels youthful and energized, especially after her illness. Contrasting her lively spirit...

Throughout The Mezzanine, Howie’s perspective on life is both optimistic and enlightening, as he brings attention to objects and interactions that we encounter daily but rarely examine closely. A striking example of this is his reflection on perforation: “Perforation! Shout it out! The deliberate punctuated weakening of paper and cardboard so that it will tear along an intended path, leaving a row of fine-haired pills or tuftlets on each new edge! It is a staggering conception, showing an age-transforming feel for the unique properties of pulped wood fiber.” But how much of his fascination is sincere? Is he simply trying to play with the reader’s perception? At times, his enthusiasm for what seems like trivial matters feels excessive, but as you continue to read, it becomes clear that he is expressing genuine appreciation through the lens of defamiliarization (in this case, the act of taking something seemingly mundane and seeing them in a new and thoughtful light). Yes, the process ...