Who Peter Walsh is
Peter Walsh is in his fifties, clever, restless and often foolish in love. He arrives in London and visits Clarissa as she mends her dress for that evening's party. Their meeting is tender and awkward, and his confusion brings him to tears.
What Peter Walsh wants
Peter has come to consult lawyers about a divorce because he loves Daisy, a young married woman in India. Yet his thoughts repeatedly return to Clarissa, whose hold on him remains unlike anyone else's. He thinks his life has been a failure, though he is quick to defend it.
Peter Walsh and the others in the story
Clarissa refuses Peter's proposal because his demands and judgments make her fear losing her independence. She chooses Richard Dalloway, who gives her more room to be herself. Peter believes she chooses rank and safety, but his view is shaped by his own disappointments.
As he walks through London, memories of Clarissa keep interrupting what he sees around him. His judgments reveal another side of her, without giving him the whole truth about her feelings.
Questions
Who is Peter Walsh in Mrs. Dalloway?
Peter Walsh is an old friend and rejected suitor of Clarissa Dalloway who returns from India.
Is Peter Walsh still in love with Clarissa?
He remains strongly attached to Clarissa, even though he has fallen for Daisy in India.
Why does Clarissa reject Peter Walsh?
Clarissa feels that Peter wants too much access to her private self. She fears that marriage to him would leave her feeling smothered.