Analyzing Woolf's Writing Style in Mrs. Dalloway

In the following excerpt from Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway, the author employs a unique writing style that significantly impacts character development and thematic exploration. Read the passage carefully and analyze how Woolf's choice of narrative techniques, such as stream of consciousness, imagery, and syntax, shapes the reader's understanding of the protagonist's mental state and the societal context of early 20th-century England.

Excerpt:

“She felt as if she were indeed only half herself: a being not quite simple, but alarmingly complicated, a languorous woman… Her mind was like the sea, tugging and pulling in different directions, sparkling in the light, yet fathomless below the surface.”

In a well-organized essay, explain how Woolf's writing style contributes to the characterization of Clarissa Dalloway and the themes of identity and alienation. Support your analysis with specific references to the text.