Mrs Dalloway takes place in London on a fine day in June, 1923. The novel mentions a number of specific landmarks, most notably the large clock known as Big Ben, which is located at the Palace of Westminster. As the clock's loud bell keeps time throughout the novel, readers are not only firmly grounded in London but also reminded of the clock's symbolic resonance as a feature of British Parliament, since the Palace of Westminster is where the two houses of Parliament convene. As such, Big Ben itself is a constant reminder of the government and the people in positions of power who run the country—something that every character in Mrs Dalloway is aware of in one way or another.
To that end, the novel's interest in power and status intersects with its exploration of the aftermath of World War I (which ended just five years before the novel takes place). While wealthy, influential people like Richard Dalloway (a politician) lead luxurious lives going to luncheons and throwing parties, veterans like Septimus continue to suffer greatly after having served in the war. Although the novel is set during a peaceful and relatively prosperous time in British history, then, it doesn't shy away from exploring the darker sides of everyday life in London, examining the many complexities of moving on as a society from something as devastating as World War I.
