Mrs. Dalloway

In his home on the Strand, Septimus Smith watches the light changing on the wallpaper while Rezia finishes making a hat at the table. Septimus and Rezia discuss Mrs. Peters, the intended recipient of the hat on which Rezia is working, and when Rezia finishes the hat, Septimus looks at it with great admiration: “Never had he done anything which made him feel so proud. It was so real, it was so substantial, Mrs. Peters’ hat” (135). When the girl comes to deliver the evening paper, Rezia dances with the little girl as they usually do, and then drops her with her mother, leaving Septimus alone in the flat. He calls for Evans just as Rezia returns. Septimus remembers that Dr. Bradshaw has decided that “he must be taught to rest” (137), which means that he and Rezia must be separated, and Septimus rages internally at the thought of being “in their power” (138). Rezia tries to reassure Septimus, telling him “No one could separate them” (130) as she packs their things, but she leaves the flat to intercept Dr. Holmes, who is coming up the stairs to see Septimus. As Dr. Holmes approaches the door to the flat, Septimus “flung himself vigorously, violently down on to Mrs.