Godziny
“Godziny” – Polish for, “The Hours”. In A Life as Potent and Dangerous as Literature Itself”: Intermediated Moves from Mrs. Dalloway to The Hours, by Maria Lindgren Leavenworth, she analyzes the character’s roles and themes present in both the novel and the movie, The Hours. In The Hours, by Michael Cunningham, Laura Brown’s story begins in 1949, in the suburbs of Los Angeles, on the birthday of her war-hero husband, Dan. They have a beautiful son, Richie, and are expecting their second child soon. Clarissa Dalloway, who’s real name, is Clarissa Vaughn, lives in the lower west side of Manhattan with her partner of 10 years, Sally. She is preparing for a party for Richard, her life long companion, and past lover, who has won a prominent…show more content… One being a theme present in both the novel and the movie: failure. Laura Brown’s depiction of failure is in her struggle with day-to-day activities as a mother and wife. “She brushes her teeth, brushes her hair, and starts downstairs. She pauses several treads from the bottom, listening, waiting, she is again possessed (it seems to be getting worse) by a dream-like feeling, as if she is standing in the wings, about to go on stage and perform in a play for which she is not appropriately dressed, and for which she has not adequately rehearsed. What, she wonders is wrong with her” (Cunningham 43). Here, the author illustrates the mental struggle Laura experiences every day with basic things - like joining her husband and son in the kitchen. Failure is also present in Clarissa Dalloway’s life but in a very different way. Unlike Laura Brown, Clarissa thrives with the domestic details, such as admiring the intricate details of the city, reflecting on how her walk would have been different had Richard been well enough to join her, noticing a film production before buying flowers, and enjoying the mundane details in throwing a party- Richards party to be exact. “In relation to failure, Clarissa Vaughn never gets to host the party. Her evening is one of grief, and her only guest is Mrs. Brown” (Leavenworth 521) Despite her entire day revolving around planning this party – whether it was picking up flowers, making “the crab thing”, or picking up Richard to bring him – none of it