The New Dress

The new dress is the central symbol of Woolf’s story and represents the pressure on women of Mabel’s time and class to concentrate on their appearance. While the plot revolves around a woman who receives an invitation to and then attends a party, the focus shifts to the woman’s obsessive thoughts about her dress and whether it’s suitable or not. Throughout the story, the reader has access to Mabel’s interior monologue. In preparation for the party, she chooses a dress design from a book of her mother’s and finds herself with warm feelings for the seamstress. The reader sees Mabel’s identity as strong and centered. Upon arrival at the party, however, Mabel’s anxious thoughts center on her new dress. Not only does she incessantly wonder if the dress is up to par, but she also centers all her interactions with the other guests on the dress. Her identity is usurped by her appearance. The dress represents the social pressure on women to appear a certain way.

The fly is a symbol that has two functions. It represents people who feel trapped in a social setting and are required to say things they don’t believe.