<div dir="ltr"><div><div><div><div>Dear Erica and Woolfpack.<br><br></div>I claim no expertise in Proust, but did read the first two books of "Temps perdu" because I was told of its influence on "Mrs. Dalloway." The connection is palpable, though I can't cite any historical evidence indicating how direct the connection is. <br>
<br>What I notice most about both works is the orchestration of humble, ordinary things. The objects, colors and words<br></div> that recur in both novels aren't fraught with meaning in themselves, but their circulation among characters gives them currency and mystery. For Woolf, this is flowers, waves, birds, words, colors, shells. They all lack the singular symbolism, say, of Gatsby's green light, yet they are somehow transcendent. So much exists in common to all the characters in "Mrs. Dalloway," the novel's great sadness comes from their massive empathic "near misses." They almost get each other; they almost have something to say; or they might be shocked to find themselves so aligned if only there were a way for both to know (as people often point out Septimus' being a kind of "extreme" version of Clarissa's more "contained" empathy.)<br>
<br></div>Proust seems to have done something similar. Every ecstatic artifact, such as the petite madeleine, a musical phrase, or three trees on a hill, is only valuable because it opens a connection. Marcel's recollections and associations, so incredibly keen, so nimble and particular, remain totally powerless to explain anybody's pains. This is the mode of jealousy: pristine recalls of betrayal's little moments which still fail to surrender any explanations. Odette is Odette. Poor Swann suffers hell for her sake... until he doesn't anymore. He disinterestedly picks up an envelope one morning and involuntary remembers how desperately he had wanted, years ago, to know the contents of Odette's mail. The details of his agony either actually had some understanding of her that he was approaching, or they never would have lead him anywhere. Septimus' suffering under the weight of his ecstatic perception, is either truly attuned to a deeply human unity which polite society ignores, or else he is alone in his madness. <br>
<br></div>As readers, we naturally defend the ecstatic power of the details... but it probably wouldn't be a very convincing defense. ;-)<br><div><br></div><div>-Eric<br></div><div><br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra">
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">2013/8/5 ANNE Fernald [Staff/Faculty [A&S]] <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:fernald@fordham.edu" target="_blank">fernald@fordham.edu</a>></span><br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr">Dear Erica & Woolfians all,<div><br></div><div>I know much less about Proust than I wish, but I think a couple things are really interesting and accessible for a broad audience:</div><div><br></div><div>
There is a lovely scene in the closing pages of the first section of vol. 1 of Proust of watching Japanese paper flowers unfold in water. It's a scene that I think Woolf drew on, more than the madeleine--especially, say in Peter Walsh's memories of Sally's flowers at Bourton.</div>
<div><br></div><div>More generally, Proust shared Woolf's fascination with parties. Like Woolf, he was a serious, contemplative writer who took seriously the kinds of social foibles that might unfold at a party like the one Clarissa Dalloway gives. Knowing that Woolf read Proust while writing Dalloway is helpful: I imagine that his example fortified her sense that the topic, flimsy in the wrong hands, had possibilities for greatness.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Woolf's diaries, Hermione Lee, Sallye Greene, and Nicola Luckhurst might all be places to comb for more.</div><div><br></div><div>Best,</div><div><br></div><div>Anne</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>
</div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, Aug 3, 2013 at 6:57 PM, Erica Delsandro <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:ericadelsandro@gmail.com" target="_blank">ericadelsandro@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div><div>Hello Woolfians!<br><br></div>My university is hosting a Proust Celebration this fall and I was asked to give a short talk on Woolf and Proust. Admittedly, I know much more about the former than the latter, and thus explained to the organization committee that my talk would be heavy on Woolf and light on Proust!<br>
<br></div>I turn to the Woolf community for any suggestions regarding texts that might help me put together a light, interesting, and engaging presentation on Woolf and Proust. Please respond off list to <a href="mailto:ericadelsandro@gmail.com" target="_blank">ericadelsandro@gmail.com</a>.<br>
<br>Thank you so much! All very best -- Erica Delsandro<br></div>
<br>_______________________________________________<br>
Vwoolf mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:Vwoolf@lists.service.ohio-state.edu" target="_blank">Vwoolf@lists.service.ohio-state.edu</a><br>
<a href="https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/vwoolf" target="_blank">https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/vwoolf</a><br>
<br></blockquote></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div><span style="font-family:sans-serif"><a href="http://www.fordham.edu/academics/programs_at_fordham_/english/faculty/english_faculty/anne_fernald_28537.asp" target="_blank">Anne E. Fernald</a></span><br>
<span style="font-family:sans-serif">Director of Writing/Composition at Lincoln Center,</span><br><span style="font-family:sans-serif">Associate Professor of <a href="http://www.fordham.edu/academics/programs_at_fordham_/english/index.asp" target="_blank">English</a> and <a href="http://www.fordham.edu/womens_studies" target="_blank">Women's Studies</a></span><br>
<span style="font-family:sans-serif">Fordham University</span><br><span style="font-family:sans-serif">113 W 60th St.</span><br><span style="font-family:sans-serif">New York NY 10023</span><br><font face="sans-serif"><br>
</font><span style="font-family:sans-serif"><a href="tel:212%2F636-7613" value="+12126367613" target="_blank">212/636-7613</a></span><br><a href="mailto:fernald@fordham.edu" style="font-family:sans-serif" target="_blank">fernald@fordham.edu</a><br>
<br></div><span></span>
</font></span></div>
<br>_______________________________________________<br>
Vwoolf mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:Vwoolf@lists.service.ohio-state.edu">Vwoolf@lists.service.ohio-state.edu</a><br>
<a href="https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/vwoolf" target="_blank">https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/vwoolf</a><br>
<br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><a href="http://www.ericjoycefilm.com" target="_blank">www.ericjoycefilm.com</a>
</div>