The similarities between The Demon Lover, The Happy Autumn Fields and Mrs. Dalloway is that the novels exemplify the effect of war on the individuality of the British people. This done through omniscient third person narrative occurring within the novels. The Demon Lover centers around the character of Mrs. Drover, who has difficulty within her thoughts in separating World War I and World War II. Within the novel of Mrs. Dalloway, omniscient third person voice is used through the characters within the novel of their overlaying personal and societal effects of the World War I. Mrs. Dalloway focuses on the effects of World War I, while The Demon Lover brings both world wars into context. The Happy Autumn Fields discusses the destruction and loss incurred by the blitzs and the unending crisis and change of the war.
Once Mrs. Drover returns back to her home, the furniture and flooring bring back memories of life after World War I. She receives a mysterious letter that is signed with “K”, which reminds her of a promise she made to a former past lover who was a soldier who died World War One. She becomes fearful of the letter in how it came into her possession in the first place. She begins to have memories of her dead fiance, as the letter acts in a way of her dead lover returning to reclaim his love in a haunting manor. Ultimately it becomes uncertain in whether she is haunted by this unknown presence within her home or if it is a mental condition on Mrs. Drovers part. Mental illness is prominent within Mrs. Dalloway, as Septimus struggles with the effects of war and Clarissa Dalloway struggles with loneliness and being a social elite. Within The Happy Autumn Fields, Mary is desperate for stability by being around chaos. She has hallucinations and has a desire in reaching people she has never met.
The most prominent difference between the novels is the relationship dynamics between Mrs. Drover and her past lover within The Demon Lover, and the relationship between Clarissa Dalloway and Peter Walsh within Mrs. Dalloway, and Henrietta and Sarah within The Happy Autumn Fields. The impression I received between Mrs. Drover and her former lover is that if her former fiance had not died in World War I, they may have still been together. The relationship between Clarissa and Peter Walsh is a much more complicated one. Clarissa was hesitant in marrying Peter Walsh and refused his offer years ago. Walsh returns to visit Clarissa and is haunted by his emotions in still having love for Clarissa. Clarissa is haunted by the unexpected visit of Walsh and his reappearance in her life after all these years, which corresponds to Mrs. Drovers visitation from her former fiance. The relationship between Henrietta and Sarah represents the response to the threatening change of childhood. The passing of childhood is unwelcoming and frightening to the characters. All novels reflect back to the past and reflect the struggles that the characters face in moving forward and letting go of the past that seem to haunt them.