Comparative Key Quotations Revision Notes for Edexcel A-Level English Literature

Comparative Key Quotations

Endurance and Resilience

Both Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Mrs Dalloway portray characters enduring suffering and displaying resilience in the face of adversity.

Tess of the d'Urbervilles

"My life looks as if it had been wasted for want of chances! When I see what you know, what you have read, and seen, and thought, I feel what a nothing I am!"

Tess expresses her feelings of inadequacy and missed opportunities, showcasing her internal struggle.
This quote highlights Tess's awareness of the social and educational disparities that impact her life.
It underscores the theme of resilience, as Tess continues to strive despite feeling disadvantaged.

Mrs Dalloway

"But she could remember going cold with excitement, and doing her hair in a kind of ecstasy… and going downstairs, and feeling as she crossed the hall 'if it were now to die 'twere now to be most happy.' That was the feeling—Othello's feeling, and she felt it, she was convinced, as strongly as Shakespeare meant Othello to feel it, all because she was coming down to dinner in a white frock to meet Sally Seton!"

Clarissa reflects on a moment of intense emotion and connection, likening her feelings to those in Shakespeare's Othello.
This quote illustrates Clarissa's resilience through her ability to find profound joy and meaning in her memories.
It also reveals Clarissa's inner strength, as she navigates the complexities of her feelings and relationships.

Isolation and Loneliness

Both Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Mrs Dalloway explore themes of isolation and the loneliness of their protagonists.

Tess of the d'Urbervilles

"I don't quite feel easy here," said Tess. "I can't get rid of the notion that somebody is following me."

Tess feels a constant sense of being watched and judged, contributing to her isolation.
This quote emphasises the theme of loneliness and the external pressures Tess faces.
It also highlights the psychological impact of her past experiences and the societal scrutiny she endures.

Mrs Dalloway

"She had a perpetual sense, as she watched the taxi cabs, of being out, out far out to sea and alone; she always had the feeling that it was very, very dangerous to live even one day."

Clarissa Dalloway reflects on her sense of isolation and the existential dangers of everyday life.
This quote underscores the theme of loneliness, as Clarissa feels disconnected from the bustling world around her.
It highlights her internal struggle with the meaning of life and the inevitability of death.

Social Critique and Class Struggle

Both Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Mrs Dalloway offer critiques of social class and the struggles of their protagonists within these hierarchies.

Tess of the d'Urbervilles

"I would be content, ay, glad, to live with you as your servant, if I may not as your wife: so that I could only be near you, and get glimpses of you, and think of you as mine."

Tess's willingness to lower her status for love reflects her struggle with societal expectations and class barriers.
This quote highlights the theme of class struggle and Tess's desire to transcend her social position.
It underscores the sacrifices Tess is willing to make, revealing the harsh realities of her societal constraints.

Mrs Dalloway

"She felt very young; at the same time unspeakably aged. She sliced like a knife through everything; at the same time was outside, looking on."

Clarissa reflects on her social position and the duality of her feelings towards her role in society.
This quote emphasises the social critique inherent in the novel, as Clarissa navigates her identity within the upper class.
It illustrates the internal conflict between her public persona and private self, highlighting the complexities of class and social expectations.

The Impact of War

Both Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Mrs Dalloway explore the profound effects of war on individuals and society.

Tess of the d'Urbervilles

"The place where they had dragged him was to some extent a trampled waste of white froth and feathers, amid which stood the scattered remains of poor Prince, like ruins on a battlefield."

This vivid imagery likens the death of Tess's horse, Prince, to a battlefield, symbolising the devastation in Tess's life.
The quote underscores the theme of loss and the impact of violence on Tess's circumstances.
It highlights the beginning of Tess's struggles and the cascading effects of this event on her life.

Mrs Dalloway

"Septimus was one of the first to volunteer. He went to France to save an England which consisted almost entirely of Shakespeare's plays and Miss Isabel Pole in a green dress walking in a square."

Septimus's motivation to volunteer for the war reflects his idealistic view of England and its cultural heritage.
This quote illustrates the impact of war on Septimus, whose experiences lead to profound psychological trauma.
It underscores the disillusionment with the war and the contrast between pre-war idealism and post-war reality.

The Role of Women

Both Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Mrs Dalloway examine the roles and expectations of women in their respective societies.

Tess of the d'Urbervilles

"Did it never strike your mind that what every woman says some women may feel?"

Tess challenges the assumptions about women's feelings and experiences, advocating for recognition of their individuality.
This quote highlights the theme of gender roles and the societal expectations imposed on women.
It emphasises Tess's desire for autonomy and her resistance to being defined solely by her gender.

Mrs Dalloway

"She had the oddest sense of being herself invisible; unseen; unknown; there being no more marrying, no more having of children now, but only this astonishing and rather solemn progress with the rest of them, up Bond Street, this being Mrs. Dalloway; not even Clarissa any more; this being Mrs. Richard Dalloway."

Clarissa reflects on her loss of identity within the confines of her social role as a wife and mother.
This quote underscores the theme of female identity and the societal pressures that shape women's lives.
It highlights Clarissa's internal conflict between herself and her social persona.

Memory and the Past

Both Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Mrs Dalloway explore how memory and the past shape the present experiences of their characters.

Tess of the d'Urbervilles

"And yet could you say she was ever distinctly seen to smile since she set foot in Trantridge? It was the same unhappy strand in our fate, I suppose."

This reflexion on Tess's demeanour since arriving in Trantridge highlights the lasting impact of her past experiences.
The quote underscores the theme of memory and how past events continue to influence Tess's present life.
It illustrates the inescapable nature of her past and its effect on her happiness and outlook.

Mrs Dalloway

"She felt somehow very like him—the young man who had killed himself. She felt glad that he had done it; thrown it away."

Clarissa's reaction to Septimus's suicide reveals her reflections on life and death.
This quote illustrates the theme of memory, as Clarissa connects her existential thoughts with Septimus's actions.
It underscores the impact of past traumas on present perceptions and the shared human experience of contemplating mortality.

Social Expectations and Individual Desires

Both Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Mrs Dalloway address the tension between societal expectations and individual desires.

Tess of the d'Urbervilles

"Tess was no insignificant creature to toy with and dismiss; but a woman living her precious life—a life which, to herself who endured or enjoyed it, possessed a value as great as the life of the mightiest to himself."

This quote emphasises Tess's intrinsic value and her struggle against being objectified by society.
It highlights the theme of individual desires clashing with societal expectations.
Tess's assertion of her worth underscores her resistance to being diminished by external judgments.

Mrs Dalloway

"She had a perpetual sense, as she watched the taxi cabs, of being out, out far out to sea and alone; she always had the feeling that it was very, very dangerous to live even one day."

Clarissa's constant sense of danger and isolation reflects her internal conflict with societal roles.
This quote underscores the theme of individual desires versus societal expectations.
It highlights Clarissa's struggle to reconcile her personal feelings with the demands of her social position.

Comparative Key Quotations (Edexcel A-Level English Literature): Revision Notes