virginia, laura, clarissa

The Hours: a film that transcends time and space to tell the story of three women whose lives are undeniably intertwined and utterly tainted with the unyielding speculations about the volatile vulnerability of life.

Who are they, exactly, and how do we see their lives reflecting those of the characters in Mrs. Dalloway?

Virginia Woolf is much like the character she herself created: Septimus Warren Smith. Like the war veteran, Virginia longs to return to the life before her mental illness took hold. Because of their disillusionment with life and the ebbing away of their freedom, both commit suicide—leaving behind spouses who loved and cared for them, yet ultimately failed to understand their true condition.

Laura Brown is also comparable to Septimus in many ways. Like Septimus, she has a devoted spouse who cares for her more than she cares for him. Post-war Septimus prefers to spend his time away from people; Laura, too, is shy and removed from society. Septimus's feelings for Evans are parallel to Laura's relationship with Kitty. Both are sick of leading a meaningless life, one that neither had ever imagined living. In response, Septimus kills himself while Laura resolves to leave her family.

Clarissa Vaughan is the modern version of Clarissa Dalloway. Not only do they share the same name, the two also have many of the same experiences throughout the day: preparing for a party, buying flowers, hearing a loud bang, and meeting friends they haven't seen in years. Clarissa Dalloway's ephemeral kiss with Sally is protracted into Clarissa Vaughan's open, decade-long relationship with her Sally. Both women dream of a different life with lovers past, and grapple with startling questions about the meaning of life. Though living in New York City eight decades later, Clarissa Vaughan is an equally revolutionary model of her fictional counterpart.