"So she would still find herself arguing in St. James's Park, still making out that she had been right-and she had too-not to marry him. For in marriage a little licence, a little independence there must be between people living together day in day out in the same house; which Richard gave her, and she him. (Where was he this morning for instance? Some committee, she never asked what.) But with Peter everything gone into. And it was intolerable, and when it came to that scene in the little garden by the fountain, she had to break with him or they would have been destroyed, both of them ruined, she was convinced."
(Woolf, 8)
Through Woolf's use of language, the reader can infer Clarissa's thoughts on marriage and independence. Throughout the beginning of the novel, Clarissa speaks of her independence, and how she does errands and other necessities alone. This is very taboo for the time period, but also allows the reader an insight on who Clarissa is as a character as well as Woolf's opinions. When Clarissa is expressing her concern on being with another person for a prolonged amount of time, and stating that this could ruin a relationship; "a little independence there must be between people living together day in day out in the same house; which Richard gave her, and she him. (Where was he this morning for instance? Some committee, she never asked what.) But with Peter everything gone into. And it was intolerable, and when it came to that scene in the little garden by the fountain, she had to break with him or they would have been destroyed" (Woolf, 8), the reader can infer that both Clarissa and Woolf have a different outlook on marriage than the social norm for that time. Clarissa wants independence, and does not care for sharing her life with another. By the opinion of Clarissa, the reader also gets a sense of the social commentary that Woolf is making.
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