Septimus: Religion, Redemption, and Resurrection
It is appropriate to believe that Virginia Woolf was well read in Christian literature due to her intellectual opposition to organized religion. Throughout Mrs. Dalloway, religion plays a vital role in the development of plot structures and characters. Most importantly, however, is the religious attributes encompassing Septimus Warren Smith. Recurring Christian imagery surrounding Septimus calls to mind the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. These images allow readers to draw the conclusion that Septimus works as a Christ figure within the context of the novel. Through this device, Woolf creates a tunnel through which she incorporates her political and religious views. By associating Septimus with Jesus Christ, Virginia Woolf is not only able to comment on religion’s relationship to humanity and reject the Christian belief that suicide is the “sin beyond redemption,” but also save Clarissa from a life that would have ultimately ended in self-slaughter. The parallel between Septimus’ progression to death and Jesus’ journey to crucifixion is apparent through Woolf’s visual and textual representations of condemnation, whippings, and the stigmata. The early stages of Jesus’ crucifixion are much like Septimus’ experiences
Like Jesus, Septimus is blindfolded (metaphorically): “He had only to open his eyes; but a weight was on them; a fear.” (69). Also, Septimus, like Jesus, is surrounded by herds of people he finds threatening and seeks refuge when he exclaims, “Away from people- (we) must get away from people” (25), whereupon he jumps up and runs to seek shelter on a bench beneath a tree. Jesus and Septimus’ story divulge further through the similarities in their condemnation. “In response to the cries of the mob, that Pilate…condemned Jesus to scourging and crucifixion” (Davis). While Septimus’ condemnation was a not a result of an angry mob, still, “He had committed an appalling crime and been condemned to death by human nature” (96). Woolf stretches the religious overtones of Septimus’ condemnation with direct references to the Lord: “So they returned to the most exalted of mankind; the criminal who faced his judges; the victim exposed on the heights; the fugitive; the drowned sailor; the poet of the immortal ode; the Lord who had gone from life to death; to Septimus Warren Smith” (97). “Jesus was brought before the Sanhedrin and Caiaphas, the High Priest. A soldier struck Jesus across the face for remaining silent when questioned by Caiaphas. The palace guards then blindfolded Him and mockingly taunted him to identify them as they each passed by, spat on Him, and struck Him in face” (Davis). Septimus feels, the only way out of this earthly hell is suicide; for no other place in the spiritual world could possibly be as terrible as the world he lives in now. The leaves that Septimus once watched “quivering in the rush of air” (69) become sparks of fire or dead people or the heat of the sun. While the Christian religion infers that Septimus will not find redemption due to his dramatic leap from the window, Septimus knows he has found redemption in his suicide. “Rezia ran to the window, she saw; she understood” (149). Rezia knew that Septimus, though happy at times, could no longer bear the surreal vision his world had become. Septimus’ decision to jump is prompted by the visit of Dr. Holmes, whom Septimus symbolically refers to as Human Nature: “Human nature was
Some topics in this essay:
Virginia Woolf,
Human Nature,
Septimus Jesus’,
Clarissa Dalloway,
Davis Septimus’,
Septimus Jesus,
Septimus Christ,
Jesus Septimus’,
Christ Woolf,
Caiaphas Priest,
human nature,
septimus’ condemnation,
jesus christ,
clarissa dalloway,
christ figure,
virginia woolf,
septimus jesus,
septimus’ death,
septimus christ figure,
life death,
surrounding septimus,
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Approximate Word count = 1491
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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