Final Thoughts on Virginia Woolf…(for now)

As the school year devastatingly approaches, I am forced to halt my Virginia Woolf reading spree in order to focus on “my studies.” But, it was good while it lasted. So what are my conclusions about Virginia Woolf so far? No doubt she is a genius and has experimented successfully in novel writing; however, such experimentation made reading Virginia Woolf at times difficult. I found that Virginia Woolf is one of those writers where every sentence in her writing counts. It really takes a lot of focus and attention to detail in order to really understand her writing. Plus, one can read Virginia Woolf over and over again and still discover something new every time. A hidden meaning, symbolism, or a new take on the perspective of a character.

But, what I love most about Virginia Woolf is her true artistry in the way she creates sentences that are simply beautiful and thought provoking. She is able to take a feeling, emotion, or idea and express those thoughts so eloquently and in a way that the reader can truly relate to and encompass such emotions. The various ideas that Virginia Woolf writes about are also a gateway for readers to think about an idea that they may have never thought about before. Virginia Woolf wanted her writing to resonate with her readers in a manner that no other novel has ever been able to do. She wanted her novels to become a part of her readers in a way that her characters and their stories make a lasting impression on the reader’s consciousness.

Virginia Woolf takes the reader into the deepest parts of the characters’ minds. So, the reader encounters an entirely unique narrative where the character development is in the form of an exploration of the character’s conscious and subconsciousness. Past, present and future are intertwined to encompass the life of the characters, and to make the reader reflect on their own lives and its significance.

It is overwhelming to think of what such great a mind Virginia Woolf’s was. Her words were her life and she created true masterpieces out of them. One could talk of, think, and reflect on the writings of Virginia Woolf for a lifetime. So, here I leave with a quote from the woman herself:

“Masterpieces are not single and solitary births; they are the outcome of many years of thinking in common, of thinking by the body of the people, so that the experience of the mass is behind the single voice.”

Virginia Woolf Challenge #6: Jacob’s Room

Published in 1922, Jacob’s Room was  Virginia Woolf’s third novel, and Virginia Woolf’s first “experimental” novel. The novel does not focus on a specific plot or setting, but is rather more of a character study. The novel centers around Jacob Flanders, a young man living before the start of WWI.

Virginia Woolf wrote Jacob’s Room as a memorial to her deceased brother Thoby (Thoby being the inspiration for the character of Jacob). The reader discovers the character of Jacob through the perspective of various other characters, mainly women.

SPOILER: Jacob eventually becomes a soldier and dies while fighting in the war. The novel ends not on the battlefield with Jacob, but in Jacob’s room. Woolf describes the emptiness of the room and the life that Jacob left behind.

A Room of One’s Own

So what does a woman need in order to fully let loose her ideas, knowledge, and creativity? An income and a room of one’s own, of course. A Room of One’s Own is probably Virginia Woolf’s most famous essay, and a staple in feminist literature. Given as a serious of lectures, Woolf discusses the history of women and writing, and the patriarchy that women need to overcome in order to freely express themselves.

I love this essay. It’s genius. It’s a well written and creative narration. Woolf takes us into the inner workings of her mind as she is thinking over the concept of women and writing. We essentially spend the day with Woolf as she thinks, discovers and forms her conclusions.

So what is Virginia Woolf’s conclusion about women and writing? Well, Woolf looks at the history of women and the little evidence of creative writing that women have left behind. Woolf asserts that the education and support for the creative expression of women has for centuries been suppressed by a patriarchal society.  Why? Woolf cleverly states, “Women have all these centuries served as looking- glasses possessing the magic and delicious power of reflecting the figure of man at twice its natural size.” Therefore, women have been kept for song long in an inferior position in order for men to maintain power.

Since this power structure has been in place and ingrained in society women have obviously been denied the same freedoms as men. And in trying to overcome their inferiority, instead of truly expressing their talents, women have expressed their anger. Any attempt that women have made in the past to express themselves (mainly through writing) had always been met with opposition and criticism. Even in 1928, one critic explained, ‘… female novelists should only aspire to excellence by courageously acknowledging the limitations of their sex.’

So, how do women overcome such aversion? Virginia Woolf uses Jane Austen as an example of a woman expressing her true genius. “Here was a woman about the year 1800 writing without hate, without bitterness, without fear, without protest, without preaching.” Jane Austen wrote about what she knew and was comfortable with and in doing so, truly conveyed her talent.

The point that Virginia Woolf is trying to make is that women need a space of their own and money in order to support themselves and their creativity. A space where a woman can think about truth and reality. A space where creativity can flourish. A woman’s room of her own is a safety net. A place where she can always go to release the faculties that have been given her.

A Room of One’s Own isn’t perfect though, and like every piece of writing has been met with criticism. But, despite some of its faults, A Room of One’s Own is still an innovative and profound essay.

Orlando: A Sex-Bender

Orlando: A Biography by Virginia Woolf. Where to begin? Orlando, born a boy, grows up in the lap of English aristocracy during the reign of Elizabeth I. He meets, falls in love, and has his heart broken by the Russian princess Sasha. After leaving England for Constantinople as Ambassador to Turkey, Orlando returns to England as a woman. Orlando then meets an Archduke, gets engaged, marries, and has a son. In the meantime, Orlando publishes a book of poetry, and every now and then dons a pair of breeches. The story finally ends in the year 1928.

A sex-bending adventure to say the least. Growing up a boy and then turning into a woman, Orlando has the unique opportunity to experience the lives of both sexes. And in living through a span of three centuries, Orlando takes a look at gender roles throughout history. It is obvious that Orlando recognizes the upper hand that men have in society, but Orlando still exclaims, “Praise God that I’m a woman!” In becoming a woman, Orlando reflects upon the downfalls of a male dominated society, and the restrictions placed on women. Yet in becoming a woman, Orlando discovers a part of her ‘self’ that she was never able to discover as a man. This discovery leads her to finish writing her epic poem which, once published, becomes critically acclaimed.

Orlando not only explores gender roles but also the passage of time, and the effect that time has on our ‘selves.’ Time is somewhat of an illusion in Orlando and it would seem that Orlando has all the time in the world. But time eventually catches up to all of us. Virginia Woolf as biographer states, “For what more terrifying revelation can there be than that it is the present moment? That we survive the shock at all is only possible because the past shelters us on one side, the future on another.” Reality and the present creep up on Orlando, but in the end, time nor age defines Orlando. Ultimately, the lives that Orlando leads are interconnected. And it is only when the clock strikes that we are reminded of the present, just like memories remind us of the past. And so I leave with another amazing quote from Orlando: “Memory is the seam stress, and a capricious one at that. Memory runs her needle, in and out, up and down, hither and thither. We know not what comes next, or what follows after.”

Virginia Woolf Challenge #3: The Voyage Out

The Voyage Out, Virginia Woolf’s first published novel, is a story about love, loss, society and how life is “all about the journey.” Rachel Vinrace along with the Ambroses and a smorgasbord of other English natives, travel to South America on the ship the Euphrosyne.

The story centers mainly around Rachel, a young, naive woman searching for her ‘self’ and her role in English society. While in Santa Marina, Rachel meets Terence Hewett, a novelist and poet looking for the always ambiguous ‘meaning of life.’ It is in Santa Marina that Terence and Rachel fall in love and get engaged. The way in which Virginia Woolf describes Rachel and Terence’s love, I found, was confusing and vague. Here’s my abridged and edited version and interpretation of how they fall in love:

Rachel: “What is this feeling I am feeling? I don’t know how to describe it. I am not really sure, but I think it is love.”

Terence: “I have these feelings too, I think it must be love.”

Rachel: “Yeah. I mean I haven’t known you for very long, maybe a couple of days; and I haven’t really met any guys in England, so I guess my first interaction with a man must be love.”

Terence: “Yes. We love each other. We have such a strong connection. Let’s get married when we get back to England.”

Rachel: “Okay.”

I know that Virginia Woolf didn’t mean to describe a love so literally, but rather symbolically (I am guessing). The whole story isn’t centered around the development of their love, but their love represents a part of life and a way for Rachel to find her independence. I just found the story of Terence and Rachel a little too undeveloped.

Then there are the other English travelers. Despite being in South America, all of the English congregate at a hotel, creating their own little English colony within the hotel. And while in South America, all these English people can do is talk and reminisce about their lives in England and how much they miss it. “Then why did you even travel to South America?!” I wanted to scream! The Voyage Out was more English than an English novel set in England. England, England, England! That is all they talked about!

When I started reading The Voyage Out I had high expectations and was excited to see where the characters’ stories were going. But as the novel progressed I lost interest. I kept thinking, “where is this story going?” And by the end of the novel (which is depressing to say the least) I was not satisfied.

The Voyage Out did have its moments though, but it wasn’t enough to leave a lasting impression.

Virginia Woolf Challenge #2: Night and Day

I was surprised to find after reading an Introduction to Night and Day, that this particular novel has never been really well received. It’s one of Virginia Woolf’s longer works, but still just as entertaining, poetic, and exploratory as The Waves or To the Lighthouse. Published in 1918, Night and Day was Woolf’s second published novel after The Voyage Out. Woolf had written many essays and shorter works previously, but never a full novel. So, why does Night and Day have such a bad reputation? Some critics have called it boring, and even Woolf had some disparaging remarks for her own work. But, as for me, I truly did enjoy this novel.

Night and Day is a story about finding love. The novel centers mainly around Katherine, who finds herself caught in the middle between two men who love her, William Rodney and Ralph Denham. Set in Post WWI London, Night and Day is considered as a modern novel and certainly expresses modern ideologies and views (especially in terms of the exploration of women’s roles). Katherine is at a juxtaposition in her life. She wants to be independent but at the same time encounters uncontrollable feelings and attachment towards Ralph Denham. So, does Katherine choose a life of independence, or can she marry Denham and have independence at the same time?

This idea is also explored through the character of Mary Datchett. Like Virginia Woolf, Mary works for the Suffragist Movement. Highly educated and independent, Mary feels as if she is missing something in her life, and that is love. Mary ultimately discovers that she loves Denham, but does he love her? And is Mary really fit for domestic life? Or is her work her true love, in that it makes her truly happy?

So, although a simple plot setting of love and marriage, Night and Day is more complex than that. Virginia Woolf, in Night and Day, I feel hearkens the wit and intricacies that can be traced in Jane Austen’s novels. And like Austen’s novels, there is such rich and symbolic dialogue. The dialogue in this novel, I believe, really sucked me into the story. Also, Woolf’s descriptions of the city of London are vibrant and so descriptive. Made me miss London I must say.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book. Don’t listen to any other reviews either. Night and Day isn’t boring or tedious; rather, it is of true Virginia Woolf style–genius.

Virginia Woolf Challenge #1: The Waves

Ok, so, maybe I shouldn’t have started with The Waves first. I mean, it is one of Virginia Woolf’s most mature and experimental works. The narration alters between individual perspectives of six friends and their thoughts and feelings spanning from childhood to adulthood.

The Waves is a very poetic novel. The novel opens among a beach as dawn is approaching. Virginia Woolf meticulously and beautifully narrates this scene of nature. And as the novel progresses and the lives of the six friends goes on, Woolf intersperses the narration with this same beach scene from dawn until sunset (these interspersed scenes strategically placed, paralleling the lives of the six friends).

Bernard, Louis, Rhoda, Susan, Jinny, Neville, and the enigmatic, heroic Percival. The story of these six friends (excluding Percival) is told through each individual’s perspective. So, as all of them are of the same age and going through similar experiences, the reader becomes enveloped in these six different perspectives. The way in which Virginia Woolf chose to write this novel is definitely unique, especially in character development. The reader in some ways “grows up” with each of the characters, as we discover each character’s most inner and intimate thoughts.

Virginia Woolf is a very exploratory and philosophical writer. Thus, it was a little difficult for me getting through the narration at first. It took me about a week to get through the novel, however, I wish I could have been able to read this book in one sitting. Since the novel is written in a sort of stream of consciousness, it was difficult after having to stop in the middle of a passage,  getting back into the story. The Waves is also an extremely cerebral yet poetic novel filled to the brim with metaphors and symbolism. A second, or maybe even third reading, would probably do a lot of good in order to really understand and absorb this novel.

But, I made it through the first novel. Next on the list, and the one in which I am currently reading is Night and Day.

The Virginia Woolf Challenge (sort of)

I have a bad habit of buying books and never getting around to reading them. This has been the case with the plethora of Virginia Woolf books that I have purchased but have not read. So, this summer I plan on going on a Woolf spree. Some of the novels and essays I have read already, but once of  Virginia Woolf is just not enough. I also plan on interspersing within my reading list, a biography and philosophical interpretation of Woolf’s works. So, here goes nothin’…

I will give my uneducated interpretations and reviews of what I have read. Hopefully, I will get through all of these books by the end of the summer. And the list is as follows (in no particular order–great start, right?):

The Waves (ok, this is the first book I will attempt, but as for the others, I’ll play it by ear and see what I am in the mood for)

To the Lighthouse

Night and Day

Orlando

A Room of One’s Own

Women and Writing

Virginia Woolf by Nigel Nicolson

A Life of One’s Own by Ilana Simons

I know that this list isn’t long and doesn’t include even half of Virginia Woolf’s writing, but it’s a start…

Death and Mrs. Dalloway

Mrs. Dalloway is a fifty two year old woman living in London. It’s June and five years after the end of World War I. The Dalloways are hosting a party, and as Mrs. Dalloway ventures onto the streets of London to by flowers for the party, all hell breaks loose. Well, not really. Virginia Woolf’s narration delves into the inner thoughts and reflections of Clarissa Dalloway.  I had some difficulty with this book at first. Woolf writes in a stream of consciousness that can be confusing. Every sentence is well crafted, significant, and full of meaning. That is how Virginia Woolf works. Each sentence is like a brush stroke in a painting, creating the overall effect that Woolf intends for us to see and interpret.

So, did I like Mrs. Dalloway?  Yes and no. I have read To the Lighthouse and I loved it, and in tackling Mrs. Dalloway I thought that I would enjoy it. Having recently been to London, I was familiar with the atmosphere of London that Woolf scrupulously describes in the novel. When Woolf mentioned Big Ben, Whitehall, St. Jame’s Park, the Strand, etc. I could say “I’ve been there!” which for some reason I find exciting. However, I was not as engaged in the story as I was while reading To the Lighthouse. Yes, Mrs. Dalloway is a masterpiece, and Woolf’s genius in writing is worth the read alone; but, I guess I just didn’t like Clarissa Dalloway herself. Clarissa grew up in the lap of luxury, but as a woman, feels stifled by her only role as a wife and a mother. As a young girl, Clarissa dreamed of making a difference in the world, but at fifty two those dreams are dead. However, Clarissa continues to “go with the flow” even though she can sense her impending doom that is mortality and death.

Death. A major focus of the novel. Not only does Clarissa contemplate her mortality, but so does the city of London as they are still recovering from a war that has effected millions of young men. One of these men we meet. Septimus is a World War I veteran, and is suffering from shell shock. His experiences in war haunt his daily life. Septimus’s character represents a contrasting figure to Clarissa Dalloway. Unlike Clarissa, who is concerned about death but moves on, Septimus is consumed by death and is ultimately unable to move on. SPOILER ALERT! Septimus eventually kills himself by throwing himself out of a window. It is important to keep in mind, also, that all of these events take place within the same day. So as Clarissa continues with planning her party, Septimus is suffering, along with the thousands of other war torn men in London.

There is also Peter Walsh. Once, and still is, in love with Clarissa Dalloway. Having moved to India, married, divorced, Peter Walsh returns to London unfulfilled. We learn of Peter Walsh’s memories, and because of Peter Walsh we explore Clarissa Dalloway’s memories. The novel ends through Peter Walsh’s view of Clarissa. Why? I don’t know. It was one of the discussion questions at the end of the book. But, I can quess. Maybe we see Clarissa through Peter Walsh because Peter Walsh is a reminder of Clarissa’s past. And Clarissa’s past is creeping up on her as she reflects throughout the novel on her life and impending death. Clarissa is conflicted. Her past conflicts with her present. Should she have married her Richard? Did Clarissa loose a part of herself when she married and had a child?

One day. Nothing can be resolved. What has Clarissa realized? How will her life end? Nothing is certain, and that is why the novel is so resonant, and slightly depressing.

So what can I say in closing? Just read the book for yourself. There are so many more things I could talk about and discuss, but I have no one to discuss it with. Therefore, these are just a few musings that I had while reading the novel.