miscellaneous iterated circles

Looking back from the end of the book, I think Jake might possibly be an introvert. Jake's happiest, most relaxed moments are when he is by himself or with a single friend. For example, when Brett goes to San Sebastian, or Jake and Bill's week in the mountains, or Jake in San Sebastian at the end of the book. During these times, he is content, calm, motivated (fishing, swimming, newspaper-ing), and enjoys life. For example, when Brett and Cohn are in San Sebastian, Jake remarks "I rather enjoyed not having to play tennis", and Jake also describes himself as being productive at work -- even getting ahead so he can take more vacation time. In contrast, his friends bring with them turmoil. Brett showing up in the middle of the night, Cohn's romantic worldview clashing with the rest of the group, the fiasco at the fiesta with Romero, Mike's belligerence, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. It's during these times where Jake thinks things "to hell with yo...

One of the things I like about Clarissa's party at the end of Mrs. Dalloway  is the fact that it's not just people easily and perfectly flowing, mingling, and talking. People at the party feel awkward, out of place, and other feelings that don't fit into the normal conception of a "party". We see this quite a few times, from multiple characters -- Peter, Ellie Henderson, Clarissa herself (multiple times). My favorite awkwardness of the party is when the party is just getting going, when Clarissa is greeting guests but she is worried that the party might not take off properly, and she notices Peter out of the corner of her eye. As with so many other Peter-Clarissa interactions, Clarissa feels like Peter is judging, criticizing her, that she is being insincere and superficial. This is partly what Peter is thinking, but he's also thinking about how he doesn't fit in with the other guests, how he doesn't know anyone at the party, and he ends up standing ...