Rethinking privacy and publicity: Reading the spatial reflections of gender through Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway

This article deciphers socio-spatial characteristics of the London scene in early twentieth century. Analyzing excerpts from Mrs. Dalloway (1925), a novel written by one prominent modernist and feminist writers, Virginia Woolf (1882-1941), literary space analysis aims to ascertain how narrative elucidates relation between assigned gender roles spatial practices protagonist Clarissa Dalloway. Revealing abundance information hidden fiction, three-partite that examines Dalloway’s living environment within contexts private (domestic) space, public ‘internal’ highlights new layers textual meaning. Thus, study exposes hints guide readers understand confined social position high society lady. Touching upon controversial issues nurtured private-public dichotomy, broadens discussion gendered discussing Woolfian as challenge patriarchal codes. Excerpts examined throughout reveal author's critique on unequal power relations men women reveals itself portrayals novel. Therefore, scrutinizing allows rediscovering, reinvestigating, rethinking privacy publicity century through modern fiction.