The Employment of Symbolism in the New Dress

【Abstract】The New Dress by English novelist Virginia Woolf achieves psychological effect through skillful use of symbolism. This paper scrutinizes the symbols and explains their effect in characterization to further discuss the value of symbol and its aesthetic functions.

【Key Words】Virginia Woolf； symbols； the New Dress

【作者簡介】魏也娜（1997.5.26-），女，山西长治人，武汉大学外国语言文学学院本科在读大三年级，研究方向：英语语言文学。

1. Introduction

In the New Dress， Mabels thoughts are presented by an unknown， third-person narrator. The ambiguity makes certain images bear more importance in the conveyance of underlying messages， thus makes the employment of symbolism magnificent.

2. Pairs of symbols

2.1 Mirror & Dress

A mirror is an object that reflects light in such a way that the reflected light preserves most of the detailed physical characteristics of the original light. Commonly used for personal grooming， mirrors become a necessity in daily life.

However， Mable doesnt turn to mirror for self-appreciation. She first confronts a mirror when she takes her cloak off in Mrs Dalloways drawing-room. The mirror at the shaded corner reminds her of her poor condition and humble origins.

“But she dared not look in the glass. She could not face the whole horror.”It is through the glass that Mable gains her image and the knowing of her circumstances. For her， mirrors are by no means instruments for “narcissism”， but reflectors of her miserable life. It gives away her poverty， inferiority and insignificance and brings her endless dissatisfaction.

The old-fashioned dress symbolizes Mabels understanding of the upper class. It reveals her aspiration and endeavor to get into the upper circle. All her notions of self worth are based on the fashionability of her dress. Measuring herself against a social code to which she looks up to， she feels a crushing sense of inadequacy.

2.2 Fly&Milk;

Flies， usually considered unpleasant， are often associated with negative things like disgust. While milk， as symbol of purity， is sanitary. These images form a pair of sharp contrast in color， image and implication. Milk in the saucer represents the ideal life of Mable： extravagant banquet， stylish dress and dignified conversations. While the fly represents despise - “She saw herself like that - she was a fly， but the others were dragonflies， butterflies ... ”A fly possibly feels lured by the scent of milk and plunges itself into it. Before long， it realizes that it is heading for its doom.“Now she could see flies crawling slowly out of a saucer of milk with their wings stuck together...” Milk brings wonderful fantasies and illusions but turns out to be a threat to its survival. Just like the extravagant， pompous party and the hypocritical human relationship， all the grandiose things with fair appearances can devastate the paltry individuals.

This is closely connected to the theme-alienation and desperation of the party guests， who are all insects in a saucer， trying desperately to escape. The only difference lies in whether they are a butterfly， dragonfly， or fly.

2.3 Yellow dot & Blue sofa

“...she could see little bits of her yellow dress in the round looking-glass which made them all the size of boot-buttons or tadpoles...”， “So she got up from the blue sofa， and the yellow button in the looking-glass got up too...” .Mable is reduced to insects， boot-buttons， tadpoles or simply dots. It is the reflection of Virginia Woolfs tendency of objectification and dehumanization. It reveals Mables way of seeing the condition of human beings， that is， human being are no more than detached solitary individuals， characterless pointless creatures.The blue sofa is the only place for her to retreat to， but it ironically gives away her inadequacy. “...left alone on the blue sofa， punching the cushion in order to look occupied...”. The sharp contrast between the conspicuous yellow dot and blue sofa depicts Mables loneliness， agony and humiliation.

3. Conclusion

Symbol helps writer to say as much as possible and as briefly as possible， as it includes figurative meaning of words besides their literary meaning. Virginia Woolf is good at taking advantage of such skill to share with readers the inner experience of the protagonist.

Mable， entrapped in struggle and contradiction， is a pathetic character but also the miniature of numerous human beings. Throughout her life， Mabel develops a fragmentary self based on others evaluations. The employment of symbolism makes great contribution in characterization.

References：

[1]韓立华.解读伍尔夫短篇小说《新装》的意象对比[J].黑龙江教育学院学报，2008（02）：111-113.