Upper Class Oppression

As the novel ends, the similarities and comparisons between Clarissa and Septimus grow incredibly clear. As both of them are forced to deal with unhappiness, Septimus chooses to kill himself while Clarissa decides to fight through it. As we have followed these two characters, we have seen differences between their lives, as they are parts of different classes of British society. Septimus is driven to suicide by the annoying upper class “doctors” that won’t leave him alone. One thing that I realized that I found incredibly fascinating is that Clarissa’s party is attended by one of these men, Sir William. Clarissa and Septimus are being oppressed by the same people! Both of them are unhappy due to being oppressed by the upper class. Septimus’s oppression is much more apparent; he actually talks about how these men are ruining his life. Clarissa feels trapped in a different way by the upper class. She isn’t sure if she is happy at the top of the social ladder. Sure, she enjoys parties, but she is not so sure if she enjoys the rest of it. She constantly longs to lead a less “upper class life.” She wonders what life could have been like with Peter, who definitely does not fit into the archetype of the important British gentleman; he is unpredictable and edgy, not following social protocol. He plans to marry an already married woman. He habitually plays with a knife, making others uncomfortable. He loathes what the upper class life does to people, as evidenced in his annoyance towards Clarissa at her party, as she plays the role of the happy hostess. Also, she lusts after Sally Seton, a woman who is also decidedly not of the upper class archetype. Sally acts unwomanly, smoking cigars and running around naked. She is not polite. She is also happy, as is Peter, in Clarissa’s eyes; they enjoy their free lives. Clarissa wishes she could live free, not being bound by societal standards. Both Clarissa and Septimus wish they would not be oppressed by the upper class.