In The Essay “Equating Performance With Identity

Abstract

The male gaze at Clarissa results in her ego splitand her conflicting inner and public self. While sheenjoys the pleasure of being looked as the one ofthe most charming, kind, loveliest ladies, she knowsthere is a price to pay for it. She is conscious that itis utterly silly and idiotic for her to do things, not forthe sake of things themselves, or for being herself,but “to make people think this or think that” (Woolf2003). As Peter comments on Clarissa in her middleage, “she was worldly; cared too much for rank andsociety and getting on in the world” (Woolf 2003).It is for getting on in the world that she has to keepup with the rest of people in her class, to performagainst her will under the male gaze. Superficially,she is brightly happy, loving life passionately; how-ever, deep inside she wants so much to escape fromthis desperate life of being Mrs. Richard DallowaythatforonemomentshenearlythinksofaskingPeterto take her away (Woolf 2003).Through characterization of Mrs. Dalloway anddepiction of her inner world, Woolf exposes thepassivity of women’s life in a patriarchal England.With man dominating over money, power, and pub-lic voice, his influence and desire have been unmis-takably taken in by woman like Clarissa. Male gazegives order, dictates her behavior and mind, teachesher to see herself through man’s eye.