Septimus Smith and the Lost Generation
Septimus Warren Smith is emblematic of the tragedy of the lost generation and the 20th century medical institution’s inability to understand mental illness. (For reference, the term ‘lost generation’ refers to the generation that came of age during WW1; specifically, it is often used to mourn the millions of men cut down in their youth who were unable to fulfil their full potential.)
On a surface level, Septimus is a successful example of pre-WW1 ideas about war. At that time, war was romanticized; it was viewed as a chance for self-actualization, to become a ‘real man’. Before the war, Septimus is characterized as fanciful, a romantic, a lover of Shakespeare and an aspiring poet. Because of these traits, he is insufficiently masculine. For him, signing up to fight meant getting the opportunity to become the football-playing man’s man that he truly desired- or rather that society (here depicted as Mr. Brewer, his boss) desired.
And for him, it works. He does become more masculine; all of a sudden, he is stoic, manly, having survived this great conflict with a new sense of purpose and dignity. He does not mourn Evans, his best friend, but rather gets married and returns to England to begin a prosperous life. From the 20th century English perspective, Septimus has succeeded where millions of men failed: the war transformed him from a naive, effeminate boy to an exceedingly masculine man. He should be proud, and he certainly shouldn’t be depressed.
But, of course, as readers with access to Septimus’s head we know that that isn’t true. Septimus is deeply unhappy, to the point of suicide. His forcing his emotions away led to them disappearing altogether, and his mental stability has never really recovered from when he made the discovery that he was no longer able to feel.
In this way, Woolf is criticizing the society she inhabited, one that she, as a gay woman who wished to live an independent life and be respected for her intellect, must have found inordinately oppressive. Further, Woolf is criticizing the medical institutions that, as a person who suffered from repeated bouts of deep depression, would have interacted with her constantly in a way that most likely negative. She does this by pointing out the vast differences between the ‘ideal man’ and the one that existed in real life. Rather than upholding Septimus as a gold standard of what war can bring to a man and what each soldier should emulate, she is illustrating his humanity by showing the very real and very harmful effects that such ideas can bring to those they are imposed upon.
It makes a lot of sense that Woolf pulled a lot of her inspiration and material for Mrs. Dalloway from her own life. One thing that I'm reminded of is how Mr. Mitchell mentioned that Woolf heard birds singing to her in Greek during some of her breakdowns, and how in this novel, Septimus hears birds singing to him in Greek. And of course, there's the whole commentary on 20th century methods of treating mental illnesses (most notably with Dr. Holmes advocating for bedrest and isolation). I would definitely agree that Septimus cuts a tragic figure in Mrs. Dalloway, and that his "successes" (like you said, becoming more masculine and respected, marrying, etc.) really don't do anything to prevent or to help his shell shock/mental illness. What I'm curious about is the societal impact of Mrs. Dalloway; if Woolf had intentions to make some sort of statement, if people were able to understand what she meant, and if they were able to do anything about it.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize that Woolf was drawing from her own personal experience when it came to the depression that she described. It's fascinating reading how she characterized its treatment with that in mind. I like the way you describe Septimus "becoming a man" due to the war in a tone that is clearly sarcastic as the war damaged him irreparably. Really good post examining the condition of Septimus.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post, and I think your analysis of Septimus and the times surrounding him are astute, and add to the character. Reading your post, it came to me that Shakespeare, one of Septimus' interests before the war, is so very British. It adds to the comparison, and reflects even more, like you talked about in your essay, on the romanticism that Britain had for war before WW1, and how Septimus both does and does not fit into this ideal of a soldier and of a man, both before and after the war, and how this changes.
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