Mrs. Dalloway 10

“Pity for the loss of roses (27).”

“(as if some lovely rose had blossomed for her eyes only) (29)”

“...soft with the glow of rose petals for some.. (30).”

“Now he withdraws up into the snows, and roses hang about him--the thick red roses which grow on my bedroom wall, he reminded himself (68).”

“Every woman, even the most respectable, had roses blooming under glass... (71).”

Roses seem to be a very important symbol throughout Mrs. Dalloway. Virginia Woolf often uses this particular flower to describe feelings of beauty and love, complete perfection, or happiness. She also frequently uses it as a metaphor for these things. For example, on page 27 Virginia Woolf describes someone as feeling “pity for the loss of roses,” meaning a pity for the loss of happiness and love, possibly also innocence. On page 71, Woolf wrote “Every woman, even the most respectable, had roses blooming under glass....”  This might be saying that every woman has lust and love inside of her, even the respectable ones who try not to show it. The only difference between those woman and the less respectable ones is that the proper ladies keep it hidden under glass.