feeling peevish

This past week we watched the movie, The Hours, a film loosely based on Mrs. Dalloway.  I'm glad that we did see the movie, it is always interesting to be able to compare and contrast and try to find linkage between books and movies. In the whole movie, there was this one line that for some reason stood out to me...

"So that's the monster"

Julia Vaughn, Clarissa's daughter mutters it to Sally, as Laura walks into their apartment.
Richard's physical ailment of AIDS doesn't seem to be the reason for his illness. The real reason is because of how heartlessly Laura abandoned him, her child, her son. What mother can bear to leave her children? I don't think I understood exactly why she did it. There was an experiment done with a monkey and her child. The scientists took the pair to a swimming pool, and placed them right in the middle, with just a rod. At first the monkey was keeping her child above her, away from the water. But gradually as the hours wore on and the level of the water rose, there came a point where she left her child and took the rod to reach the deck. (Please note that this experiment didn't take place during modern times, it took place during the time of kings and empires.) Both mothers, the monkey and Laura, left their children, as much as I want to condemn them, I can't, it was a matter of survival. I feel utmost sorrow for them, and as well as disdain.  I really don't want anyone to face such a decision.

There was also the matter of Richard, Laura, Sally, and Clarissa having read the book.

Seriously.

Clarissa read the damn book. She knows that Septimus goes out the window. Yet she stands there perplexed as to why Richard is sitting on the window ledge, after having called her "Mrs. Dalloway".
Yes, I know, having this happen to them, links the book, and the people together, like Clarissa Dalloway feels linked to everyone in the book.

But come on. WHY??!?!

It is agonizing to watch something fall apart slow motion and knowing you can do nothing to save it.