The New Dress by Virginia Woolf
The New Dress is a short story by Virginia Woolf, first published in 1925. It tells the story of a young woman, Clarissa Dalloway, who is preparing for a party she is hosting. As she is getting ready, she reflects on her life and her relationships with her family and friends. She also contemplates the changes that have taken place in her life since she married her husband, Richard. Clarissa is excited to wear her new dress for the party, but she is also anxious about how she will be perceived by her guests. She worries that her dress is too daring and that she will be judged for it. As she gets ready, she reflects on her life and her relationships with her family and friends. She also contemplates the changes that have taken place in her life since she married her husband, Richard. The story follows Clarissa as she goes through the motions of getting ready for the party. She reflects on her life and her relationships with her family and friends. She also contemplates the changes that have taken place in her life since she married her husband, Richard. In the end, Clarissa decides to wear her new dress and is pleased with the results. The story ends with Clarissa feeling content and confident in her new dress.
By Virginia Woolf · First published 1927 · Genre: Modernist Literature, Feminist Literature, Realism · 3,239 words
First lines
Mabel had her first serious suspicion that something was wrong as she took her cloak off and Mrs. Barnet, while handing her the mirror and touching the brushes and thus drawing her attention, perhaps rather markedly, to all the appliances for tidying and improving hair, complexion, clothes, which existed on the dressing table, confirmed the suspicion--that it was not right, not quite right, which growing stronger as she went upstairs and springing at her, with conviction as she greeted Clarissa Dalloway, she went straight to the far end of the room, to a shaded corner where a looking-glass hung and looked. No! It was not RIGHT.
What this Textopian page supports
The New Dress is listed on Textopian as a short story by Virginia Woolf, dated 1927 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Virginia Woolf
- Date: 1927 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Modernist Literature, Feminist Literature, Realism, Romance
- Length: 3,239 words
- Structure: 1 section, 28 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The New Dress by Virginia Woolf
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The New Dress?
- How does this short story by Virginia Woolf fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Modernist Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Mark On The Wall by Virginia Woolf
- The Lady In The Looking Glass by Virginia Woolf
- Jane Eyre And Wuthering Heights by Virginia Woolf
- Rose In Bloom by Louisa May Alcott
- Monday Or Tuesday by Virginia Woolf
Genres
- Modernist Literature — The New Dress is a short story written by Virginia Woolf, a prominent figure in the modernist literary movement. The story follows a woman's journey of self-discovery and her struggle to find her own identity in a patriarchal society.
- Feminist Literature — The New Dress is a story that explores the themes of gender roles and the oppression of women in a patriarchal society. The protagonist's journey of self-discovery is a reflection of the struggles faced by women in the early 20th century.
- Realism — The New Dress is a realistic story that explores the everyday struggles of a woman in a patriarchal society. The story is written in a straightforward and realistic style, with no fantastical elements or exaggerated emotions.
- Romance — The New Dress contains elements of romance, as the protagonist's journey of self-discovery is intertwined with her relationship with a man. The story explores the themes of love and relationships in a realistic and nuanced way.
Tags
blue · book · charles · charming · dalloway · deserved · drawing-room · dress · fashion · feel · flies · glass