Erin's Blog?

 The first time we hear about Peter Walsh is when Clarissa Dalloway recalls him saying, "Musing among the vegetables?" This first impression we get of Peter is that he likes to pick apart Clarissa's behavior. While she also remembers "his eyes, his pocket-knife, his smile, his grumpiness," it's the criticism that comes to her first. As we learn more about Peter, it becomes clear that that wasn't an isolated event. Everything seems to remind her of Peter, and many of the memories aren't positive. When Clarissa meets Hugh, she recalls that Peter "had never to this day forgiven her for liking him." While she's enjoying the city, she contemplates her and Peter's differing definitions of beauty. And most significantly, as she prepares for her party, she hears Peter's voice in her head, calling her "the perfect hostess." When he shows up at her house in the middle of party preparations, this insult returns to her again, and ...

For me, the most interesting part of the Mezzanine was what Howie decided was interesting and important. I think the best example of his unique thought process is his list on page 16, which describes the eight "major advancements" of his life. (The fact that he was capable of making a list like that in the first place was impressive, in my opinion. I wasn't able to think of my own list, which was weirdly frustrating. Everything I could think of was sketchy and abstract, and as soon as I came up with something I'd change my mind almost immediately.) All but the eighth item on Howie's list is routine or maintenance related. He puts a lot of value on these skills that allow him to move through his world a little more smoothly, which I can understand, because he seems better than most people at detecting roughness. The entirety of the Mezzanine shows how interesting (and upsetting) Howie can find tiny details most people would never think about twice. So, it makes sen...