Abstract
M.A.
Each of Virginia Woolf’s novels provides a unique text dense with insight. This study explicates, with specific attention to detail, Woolf’s portrayal of the awareness of her characters through the content and form of the novel itself. Awareness and the development of awareness create a vision (or acute perspective) in the individual who possesses the highest level of sensitivity. This vision is the awareness of different perspectives through a sensitivity to sensory experience. The characters in Mrs Dalloway and the characters in The Waves, albeit to differing degrees, from total non-action to different attempts of action to interaction, create a perspective for their individual selves respectively. Perspective mediates every part of the life: community, relationships and/or the internal consciousness of any one character. In turn the perspective of any one character is influenced by those external factors: community and/or other people. The dynamic between perspective, the individual and internal and external influences is the central part of this study. Woolf explores this dynamic through sensory imagery. The character that consciously chooses to create and participates in the action of creation becomes more aware. There is a responsibility that comes with that conscious choice and interaction as a result of self-awareness. The responsibility is that in any attempt to create there exists the potential to bring about change. This change can be constructive and positive, or destructive and negative. Active awareness takes place in the community, in relationships among characters or within the individual. A positive change allows unique expression while a negative change advocates a system that condemns individual vision. This study does not favour one result over another but intends to portray the different versions of perspective, vision, choice and creativity through the functioning of individual characters at different levels of awareness in Mrs Dalloway and in The Waves at the level of community, relationship and the individual.