Consider how Woolf uses this character to allude her personal opinions of treatment of the mentally

ill in post war London.

The theme of mental illness is one among the prominent theme in Mrs Dalloway. It is a theme which
recurs constantly throughout the novel, through Woolf's character Septimus Warren Smith.

Virginia Woolf uses Septimus to allude to personal opinions of treatment of the mentally ill in post war
London, by deploring the nefarious side of the medical practices through the patriarchal language of
doctors. Mrs Dalloway introduces a patriarchal society in which Septimus; a mentally ill lives and he has
to deal with his illness. Through Lucrezia's stream of consciousness, Woolf paints a better view of the
patriarchal language as she reflects: "For Dr. Holmes had told her to make her husband take an interest
in things outside himself", "Dr. Holmes said there was nothing the matter with him", "Dr. Holmes had
told her to make him notice real things". The repetitive use of "Dr. Holmes had told her, Dr. Holmes
said" give a sense of order, even though Lucrezia is the wife of Septimus it seems that she does not have
any right over her husband, and it is Dr.Holmes who imposes on septimus' life. He is the one to tell
Lucrezia what she is supposed to do and what she is not. Here through a male character, Virginia
reveals how she has also been a victim of the patriarchal language of her doctors. Just like Dr. Holmes
imposes on septimus' life in this same way Virginia's doctors were imposing on her life. The quote "Dr.
Holmes said there was nothing the matter with him" is indicative as Virginia is categorically making a
satire of the medical practices of her time. She is denouncing the kind of treatment she as a mentally ill
woman she received by her doctors. The Victorian doctors were just giving general assumption to the
ill. Woolf alludes to her personal opinion, instead of doctors going to the root of her illness and
diagnose what she really suffers from, they were just assuming that there was "nothing wrong" with her.
She is denouncing the evil practices of doctors who were insensitive to the plight of the mentally ill in
post war London. Hence, it s clear enough that she is making an allusion to her personal life through the
patriarchal language.

Furthermore, Woolf uses Septimus to make allusion of the mentally ill in post war London through the
patriarchal discipline. In Mrs Dalloway, Woolf's character Septimus' life is entirely controlled by his
doctors. They imposed certain disciplines on him in order to control his life. Dr. Holmes reduces the
rigidity of Septimus' condition and he prescribes another method to supposedly help him get out of his
illness that is to start having "porridge" at breakfast. Dr Bradshaw on the other hand prescribes
Septimus the rest cure system, as he says: "we will teach you to rest". It clearly shows that Septimus'
life is regulated, he does not have the freedom to act as per his will and wishes. Dr. Holmes and Dr
Bradshaw are seen to be epitomes of protypical doctors who are insensitive to the plight of their
patients. It comes to such an extent that Septimus is stifled with all these disciplines that he chooses to
commit suicide rather than to submit himself to the hands of doctors. In this same way, Woolf's life
was controlled by the patriarchal discipline. Her doctors prescribed porridge for her and the repressive
rest cure system. For Virginia even her actions were controlled. Writing which is a means of expressing
one's emotions and a way to communicate, Virginia was also prevented from doing so.