Conventions in Emma and Mrs. Dalloway

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a convention as “usage or custom especially
in social matters or a rule of conduct or behavior.” In Jane Austen’s Emma and Virginia
Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway, conventions have numerous uses. Conventions suppressed
personal desires, allowed people to communicate without conflict, kept lives running
smoothly, and governed social affairs.

Conventions suppressed personal feelings. As Clarissa Dalloway greeted the people
who came to her party at her own personal space, she said “how delightful to see you!”
(Woolf 163) to each person. Clarissa didn’t articulate how she actually felt about each
person who came to her party; however, she was “effusive” and “insincere” (Woolf 163)
just to conform to the conventions of the era. Clarissa Dalloway utilized conventions and
suppressed her own feelings simply to keep her guests comfortable at her party.

Conventions kept life running smoothly. Although Clarissa Dalloway, in Mrs. Dalloway,
was in love with Peter Walsh as a young adult, she married Richard Dalloway just
to conform to the conventions and expectations of her peers. Clarissa Dalloway was
expected to marry a person similar to Richard Dalloway, and she couldn’t fulfill her
relationship with Peter Walsh because of conventions. Conventions caused Clarissa
Dalloway to chose social status over love, and those conventions virtually changed her
entire life.

Conventions governed social affairs in the 1800’s and in the 1900’s. In Emma, Emma
Woodhouse threw a party for Mr. Elton’s new wife. The party continued according to
the social conventions of the 1800’s; the party began with a dinner, and concluded with
the men and women parting to separate rooms. Since social conventions were followed
almost to a tee, the party ran smoothly. Additionally, in Mrs. Dalloway, Clarissa’s party
began with the “ladies… going up one by one.” (Woolf 161) Since the party started off
following the social conventions of the time, conflicts were avoided at the beginning of
the gathering. The people who lived in both these generations relied on conventions to
have successful parties.

Conventions were so important in the 19th and 20th centuries because when a person
disregarded conventions and expressed their real feelings, conflicts were created. In
Emma, Emma Woodhouse breached conventions and expressed how she really felt
toward Miss. Bates, saying “Ah! ma’am, but there may be a difficulty. Pardon me, but
you will be limited as to number—only three at once.” (Austen 301) Emma insulted
Miss Bates, and disrupted the informal social gathering she was participating in. This
passage in Emma illustrated how important conventions were to the people in this
time period. Likewise, when conventions were disregarded, conflict between people
occurred. There were certain safe topics that people could talk about in conversations.
At Clarissa Dalloway’s party, the majority of her guests adhered to the conventions,
except for two men who quarreled. These two men didn’t use the conventions, and it
lead to a conflict at the party. The proper use of conventions generally kept conflicts
away.

The character’s actions in Emma and Mrs. Dalloway demonstrated how necessary
conventions were in the time periods the novels were set in. Without the conventions,
conflicts occurred; however, when characters used the conventions, life ran in a way
that the characters were accustomed to and expected.

Andrew Corbitt


Austen, Jane. Emma. New York: Penguin. 1815. Woolf, Virginia.
Woolf, Virginia. Mrs. Dalloway. Orlando: Harcourt, Inc. 1925.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Web.