Virginia Woolf Essays (Examples)

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It would take an entire paper just to explicate all of the roles that women play today and how society has changed as a result. The point is that it has changed and that women play a much different role in literature today than they did even just a century ago during Woolf's time. Woolf saw just a glimpse into the social turn that has led to the present day and the feminist views that have inundated our society. Her era was still filled with male dominated ideas. Ideas that shaped her world and in many ways made her into the woman she was. Her feminist ideals would have never emerged had there not been a need for them. At the beginning of her essay, a Room of One's Own, Woolf states clearly that she was asked to write on the subject (1) *
. it's a rather ambiguous statement….

Mr. Forster, it seems, has a strong impulse to belong to both camps at once. He has many of the instincts and aptitudes of the pure artist (to adopt the old classification) -- an exquisite prose style, an acute sense of comedy, a power of creating characters in a few strokes which live in an atmosphere of their own; but he is at the same time highly conscious of a message. Behind the rainbow of wit and sensibility there is a vision which he is determined that we shall see. But his vision is of a peculiar kind and his message of an elusive nature." This seems to be a hint as to Woolf's own approach. Certainly a work like "The Death of the Moth" exhibits an "exquisite prose style" and even has its own moment of forlorn comedy, perhaps, in its closing line: but behind all of Woolf's….

Virginia oolf's "A Room of Her Own": ar, Independence, and Identity
"[a]s a woman, I have no country. As a woman I want no country. As a woman, my country is the whole world" -Virginia oolf

The Chinese character for "crisis" is a combination of the words "danger" and "opportunity." It is often the case that when people are faced with hardship, they experience inward, mental, changes as a coping strategy to continue thriving in a new environment. History is ridden with stories of human strength and persistence in the face of imminent danger, such as with Holocaust victims, or any near-death experience. The threat of death, say in times of war, has serious psychological effects on people: for instance, post-traumatic-stress-disorder is commonly attributed to individuals coming from a war-torn area. The effects of war and violence can also be seen in advancing the intellectual movements that have occurred during such times….

Virginia Woolf's Final Novel -- and George Orwell
Virginia Woolf's novel, etween The Acts was her final published work, and it would be reasonable for a reader who knows how she chose to end her life (by drowning herself in the River Ouse on March 28, 1941), to suspect that she committed suicide in part because she was in great despair over the frightening possibility of the Nazis being successful in their threat to invade, take over, and/or destroy England.

Woolf wrote the novel in the midst of the "London litz," and in fact her house was bombed by the German rockets being fired across the English Channel. This deeply disturbed Woolf, who had suffered through periods of depression and mental anguish in her life. Add to her psychological problems the fact that things certainly looked dark for the English, and life was very bleak at that time in her life, a….

The withdrawal into this room, away from the others, and the pleasant, cheerful view out of the window bring a sudden realization upon her: the death of her husband actually means freedom, the freedom to live for herself only and enjoy her own life. As in Virginia's oolf book, Mrs. Mallard realizes the importance of a woman's having a room of her own, that is, her own private world where she can enjoy her own life. hen she gets out of the room she had come to mourn for her husband, Mrs. Mallard finds with stupefaction that her husband had just arrived and that he had never been in the accident. The end of story tells us she dies "of joy," according to the others. Thus, Chopin's story perfectly illustrates the ideas that Virginia oolf will express later in her book: women felt muffled in a society that didn't….

The giant who was once a demi-god suddenly becomes a devil's minion. This revelation rests within the woman's power; Virginia had no problem openly revealing George's impotence, failure in his career, and turn of temperament while Nora - admittedly a bit more gracious, though none the less cunning - did nothing to Torvald's immediate public image. The harm to Torvald would come later, when explaining why his wife and 'doll' were absent from his and the children's lives.
Summary

For many centuries, women have been considered chattel - possessions by which a man defines his strength, virility, and power. Women -- seeking safety, security, and a family to which they can address their need to nurture -- have accepted the role of property. The quote referenced for this work, while true for many decades, is inherently and progressively changing. It is safe to say that these same women were merely agreeable….

Virginia oolf's a Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
In his novel, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, James Joyce employs symbols and motifs to illustrate Stephen's maturity and growth. Joyce brings to mind the myth of Icarus and Daedalus, which help us understand Stephen's thoughts and actions. Joyce also includes such symbols as color and water to demonstrate the Stephen's development. In addition, Joyce utilizes motifs such as fire, prayer, and religion to emphasize the incredible impact religion makes on Stephen as a young boy and how it influences his decisions as a young adult.

One significant use of symbolism in "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" is the myth of Icarus and Daedalus. Like Icarus and Daedalus, Stephen is wandering and seeking his identity. Because he is on a path to self-discovery, Joyce has Stephen walk the path of many roads. For….

In "The Mark on the all" and "A Room of One's Own," we see how this style proved to be successful for oolf in many ways. It allowed her to experiment with stream of consciousness thinking and writing and it also opens the door for other feminist writing. Her narrative form is as much a part of her argument as her topic is and her stories and essays prove that women can and could create good fiction.
orks Cited

Abrams, M.H. "Virginia oolf." The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Vol. II. New York .. Norton and Company. 1986.

Marder, Herbert. "The Mark on the all: Overview." Reference Guide to Short Fiction. atson, Noelle, ed. 1994. GALE Resource Database. Site Accessed November 5, 2004. http://www.infotrac.galegroup.com

Rosenberg, Beth Carole. "Virginia oolf: Overview." Feminist riters. Kester-Shelton, Pamela. 1996. GALE Resource Database. Site Accessed November 5, 2004. http://www.infotrac.galegroup.com

Untermeyer, Louis. The College Survey of English Literature. itherspoon, Alexander,….

In effect, because males became the model subjects for their experiments, male development was considered the normative kind of human development than those of women's. As the author contends, psychology and empirical studies about humans "have tended to regard male behavior as the 'norm' and female behavior as some kind of deviation from that norm...Thus, when women do not conform to the standards of psychological expectation, the conclusion has generally been that something is wrong with women."
Gilligan's arguments were echoed by Woolf's imaginative contemplation of the woman in the Elizabethan Age in "Shakespeare's Sister." Though composed many decades earlier than Gilligan's scientific inquiry into women subjugation, Woolf had provided a fairly accurate description of the life of women during her time in the context of the Shakespeare's society. Using the character of Judith, whom Woolf purported as the great playwright Shakespeare's sister, the author remarked how women were generally….


Most of the story revolves around a day of a woman's preparation for a party. The preparation of such an event provides a glimpse into the lifestyle of the upper-middle class that the main character is a member of. The lifestyle appears to be somewhat superficial to many readers however the story also involves various political and cultural changes that Britain is experiencing at the time. The country is struggling with a shifting political power structure from one that is highly concentrated to one that is more populist in nature. The bourgeoisie or middle class is gaining more power in the political system which is upsetting the traditional social structure that is portrayed in the novel. Woolf's dislike of the lower classes was illustrated through her protagonist behavior towards the characters in the novel who belong in the inferior class.

Woolf was increasingly concerned with the position of women in society;….

Literary Analysis Research Paper Introduction
Mrs. Dalloway is a novel written by Virginia Woolf. It was published in 1925. The book highlights various issues in life such as love, death, social status, and mental illness. Woolf also condenses the story of Clarissa into a single day comprising of past experiences and events (Latham 64). This paper will focus on the literacy aspects present in Mrs. Dalloway. Namely, setting, character, and themes.
Setting
The setting of Mrs. Dalloway is London in early 1923 after World War 1. The whole story takes place over one day in June with many flashbacks to Mrs. Dalloway youth in the 1980s. Each of the settings – London, after the war, and a day in June is analyzed as follows:
London
The story takes place in London. Woolf mentions London’s iconic landmarks such as Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and the Houses of Parliament. These landmarks remind the reader….

Shakespeare's Sister," and Maxine Hong Kingston's story, "No Name oman," reveal the theme of silencing women within literature, resurrection by the female author, while the lives of the authors' provide a dramatic contrast to the suppression of women depicted in their works. Ultimately, female writers like Hong Kingston are the fulfillment of oolf's dream for Shakespeare's sister, and represent the death of the tradition of silencing women's voices within the estern world.
The Silencing of omen Depicted in oolf and Hong Kingston

oolf's essay, "Shakespeare's Sister" is a clear portrait of the silencing of women by larger society. ithin "Shakespeare's Sister," Virginia oolf describes the fictional life of Judith, the sister of Shakespeare. She begins this analysis by noting the lack of women's presence in either history books or within literature. rites oolf, "what I find deplorable, I continued, looking about the bookshelves again, is that nothing is known about women….

Virginia Woolf and Her Works as Mediums of Feminism
Virginia Woolf was among the rare writers who have put their talents and ideologies into writings, particularly as a patron of equality to women. Considered as one of the founders of feminism, there were quite a number of literary works that show Woolf's passion for promoting feminism. Some of this includes the following literary masterpieces.

To the Lighthouse

A Room on One's Own (1929)

Three Guineas (1938)

Women and Fiction (1929)

Professions for Women (1929)

Much of Woolf's literatures depicted her strict criticism on how the society put little importance to the female gender. Also, she showed in the context of her works how prominent the female gender can play important roles in the society, both socially and politically. Much of Woolf's works have in fact depicted political thoughts that have endeared the hearts and minds of many readers.

The information written in the following pages of this paper….

Virginia oolf
In "A Room of One's Own," Virginia oolf argues that writing is a means by which women can empower themselves, and in so doing, subvert patriarchy. oolf uses symbolism throughout the essay, namely in the central concept of a room. A room, or a physical space, provides the power of place from which to launch probing inquiry and social commentary. Rather than dwell inside the confines of a patriarchal, pre-defined social space, the woman creates a room of her own. This room is both a public and a private sphere; it is a room in the sense of having one's privacy. It is also a room to speak in a public forum, which oolf does when she delivers the essay. oolf speaks on behalf of all women, which is one of her rhetorical strategies. Specific literary techniques other than symbolism, such as irony, add depth to oolf's argument. The….

Virginia Woolf knew there were deaths visible to the public and deaths that occurred deep within one's heart and mind to which no one else is witness. The Victorian period was an incubator for the private death of every woman's thoughts and ideas. Woolf laments, "There is no woman in the Cabinet; nor in any responsible post. All the idea makers who are in a position to make ideas effective are men…Why not bury the head in the pillow, plug the ears, and cease this futile activity of idea-making?" (1Thoughts on Peace in an Air Raid).
In her essay Evening Over Essex: Reflections in a Motor Car, Woolf captured the sequence that kept repeating in her life -- a sequence all too common during the period in which Woolf lived: "Also there was disappearance and the death of the individual. The vanishing road and the window lit for a second and….

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19 Pages
Research Paper

Literature

Virginia Woolf's View of Women

Words: 6146
Length: 19 Pages
Type: Research Paper

It would take an entire paper just to explicate all of the roles that women play today and how society has changed as a result. The point is…

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5 Pages
Essay

Literature

Virginia Woolf's The Death of the Moth

Words: 1777
Length: 5 Pages
Type: Essay

Mr. Forster, it seems, has a strong impulse to belong to both camps at once. He has many of the instincts and aptitudes of the pure artist (to…

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10 Pages
Dissertation or Thesis complete

Sports - Women

Virginia Woolf's A Room of Her Own

Words: 3432
Length: 10 Pages
Type: Dissertation or Thesis complete

Virginia oolf's "A Room of Her Own": ar, Independence, and Identity "[a]s a woman, I have no country. As a woman I want no country. As a woman, my country…

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5 Pages
Essay

Literature

Virginia Woolf's Final Novel -- and George

Words: 1878
Length: 5 Pages
Type: Essay

Virginia Woolf's Final Novel -- and George Orwell Virginia Woolf's novel, etween The Acts was her final published work, and it would be reasonable for a reader who knows how…

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1 Pages
Term Paper

Sports - Women

Virginia Wolff Virginia Woolf's a

Words: 485
Length: 1 Pages
Type: Term Paper

The withdrawal into this room, away from the others, and the pleasant, cheerful view out of the window bring a sudden realization upon her: the death of her…

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2 Pages
Term Paper

Sports - Women

Virginia Woolf Women Have Served

Words: 630
Length: 2 Pages
Type: Term Paper

The giant who was once a demi-god suddenly becomes a devil's minion. This revelation rests within the woman's power; Virginia had no problem openly revealing George's impotence, failure…

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4 Pages
Term Paper

Literature

Virginia Woolf's a Portrait of the Artist

Words: 1183
Length: 4 Pages
Type: Term Paper

Virginia oolf's a Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man In his novel, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, James Joyce employs symbols and motifs to…

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5 Pages
Term Paper

Literature

Virginia Woolf Is Considered to

Words: 1514
Length: 5 Pages
Type: Term Paper

In "The Mark on the all" and "A Room of One's Own," we see how this style proved to be successful for oolf in many ways. It allowed…

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3 Pages
Term Paper

Literature

Virginia Woolf & Carol Gilligan

Words: 816
Length: 3 Pages
Type: Term Paper

In effect, because males became the model subjects for their experiments, male development was considered the normative kind of human development than those of women's. As the author…

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2 Pages
Reaction Paper

Literature

Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway Was

Words: 598
Length: 2 Pages
Type: Reaction Paper

Most of the story revolves around a day of a woman's preparation for a party. The preparation of such an event provides a glimpse into the lifestyle of the…

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7 Pages
Research Paper

Literature

Literary Analysis of Virginia Woolf

Words: 2229
Length: 7 Pages
Type: Research Paper

Literary Analysis Research Paper Introduction Mrs. Dalloway is a novel written by Virginia Woolf. It was published in 1925. The book highlights various issues in life such as love, death, social…

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6 Pages
Term Paper

Literature

Virginia Woolf and Maxine Hong Kingston

Words: 2015
Length: 6 Pages
Type: Term Paper

Shakespeare's Sister," and Maxine Hong Kingston's story, "No Name oman," reveal the theme of silencing women within literature, resurrection by the female author, while the lives of the…

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8 Pages
Term Paper

Literature

Feminism and Virginia Woolf

Words: 2040
Length: 8 Pages
Type: Term Paper

Virginia Woolf and Her Works as Mediums of Feminism Virginia Woolf was among the rare writers who have put their talents and ideologies into writings, particularly as a patron of…

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3 Pages
Essay

Literature

Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf Found in the Seagull Reader

Words: 989
Length: 3 Pages
Type: Essay

Virginia oolf In "A Room of One's Own," Virginia oolf argues that writing is a means by which women can empower themselves, and in so doing, subvert patriarchy. oolf uses…

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5 Pages
Essay

Psychology

What Made Virginia Woolf Mad

Words: 1512
Length: 5 Pages
Type: Essay

Virginia Woolf knew there were deaths visible to the public and deaths that occurred deep within one's heart and mind to which no one else is witness. The Victorian…

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