The Portrayal of Women in Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

Abstract

The research discusses about Virginia Woolf’s thoughts on the ideal women as portrayed in the novel Mrs. Dalloway. The research is conducted by applying the expressive approach by M.H. Abrams. It aims to explain how Virginia Woolf expresses her thoughts about her ideal women as seen in Mrs. Dalloway. The result of this research shows Virginia Woolf’s ideal women are the ones who have strong determination and struggle for freedom and equality as portrayed by Clarissa, Sally, Miss Kilman and Elizabeth in Mrs. Dalloway. Although in the end of the novel they must tolerate and deal with the patriarchal society in twentieth-century Britain that means they will get less freedom, they still have optimism not to give up and believe that good things will happen.