Female Relationships in Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway Clarissa Dalloway, the central character in Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway, is a complex figure whose relationships with other women reveal so much about her personality as well as his own reflections. Focusing at length on several characters, all in some way connected to Clarissa, Woolf skillfully portrays the way women interact: sometimes drawing on each other for things they can't get from men; other times, turning on each other out of jealousy and insecurity. Clarissa interacts with women in both of these ways. His relationship with Sally Seton, for example, is quite positive. Once upon a time, in their youth, Clarissa admired the individualistic woman and was fascinated by her rebellious ways; furthermore, the physical experience he enjoys with Sally is something he never equals with a man. On the other hand, Clarissa's contempt for Ellie Henderson reflects her snobbish view of social classes, while her feelings towards Lady Bruton represent her inferiority complex. Finally, Mrs. Dalloway's borderline hatred of Miss Kilman stems from her possessive feelings for her daughter, Elizabeth. Looking closely at these relationships brings Clarissa's identity into clearer focus. The character of Sally Seton is one of the most influential in Mrs. Dalloway, a confident woman capable of influencing those around her in various ways. Her appearance at the end of the novel proves disappointing, because she has seemingly denied her past and conformed to a traditional female role; however, his effect on Clarissa during their youth is not erased by this conformity. esteem. Of course, Kilman's poor self-image isn't explored until Elizabeth leaves for the restaurant. Clarissa's relationships with other women in Mrs. Dalloway offer great insight into her personality. Furthermore, Woolf's decision to focus at length on Sally Seton, Millicent Bruton, Ellie Henderson, and Doris Kilman allows the reader to see how the women relate to each other in extremely different ways: sometimes drawing on each other for things which they cannot obtain from men; other times, turning on each other out of jealousy and insecurity. Although Mrs. Dalloway is far from the healthiest and most positive literary portrayal of women, Woolf presents an excellent exploration of female relationships. WORK CITED Woolf, Virginia. Mrs. Dalloway. New York: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1990.