Poetic, intimate, unique, genius and challenging. These are a few of the words I would use to describe the reading of Virginia Woolf’s work. Considered to be one of the most important writers of the 20th century, Woolf’s technique brings a deep and reflexive inner monologue narrative. Her particular style of writing stands out as a relevant contribution to modern writing. Without a doubt, Virginia Woolf left a valuable legacy for future writers, as well as for the readers who look for books that differ from the conventional.
Feminism and the stream of consciousness are two of the most characteristic aspects of Woolf’s work, showing forward-thinking for the 20th century. She always brought a unique point of view that captivates the reader. However, to understand her way of writing, it is important to know a bit about her background. Here are a few significant things you need to know about Virginia Woolf’s life and work.
Who Was Adeline Virginia Stephen?
Born on January 25 of 1882, Adeline Virginia Stephen grew up in a very cultured and liberal family environment, in London. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree, because her parents were very articulate with the British literary scene. Her father, Sir Leslie Stephen, was a distinguished book critic and historian, and her mother, Julia Ducksworth, came from a line of important editors. They were a big family, Virginia had seven siblings, being 3 of them half-brothers. They grew up in a house where artists, writers, and politicians would attend, and the big attraction of the home was the library.
However, she had a very complex and tough life. It is believed that she was abused by two of her half-brothers and never managed to completely overcome the distrust of men. Even though she was married to the renowned economist and historian Leonard Woolf, she also had a romantic inclination towards women. In 1895, when Virginia was 13 years old, her mother died suddenly of rheumatic fever. The young woman started to suffer from depression and she had a sudden change of humor, which nowadays would be diagnosed as a bipolar personality disorder.
Woolf’s disease got worse after the death of her half-sister, Stella, only two years later, and her father, in 1905, a victim of cancer. Even though these tragic events and disorders interfered with her social life, they didn’t affect her literary productivity much. After the loss of her closest relatives, she moved to Bloomsbury, in the West End, where her house turned into a place where famous personalities of the time would meet. Among them were the writers Forster and Strachey, the economist Keynes, the painter Grant, and the philosophers Bertrand Russell and Ludwig Wittgenstein. They formed the famed Bloomsbury Group. It was at one of the meetings that she met her husband, Leonard Woolf. The couple founded the famous book publisher Hogarth Press.
Virginia started writing articles and critics to The Guardian and to The Times. Her first work on the literary field was a play entitled Melymbrosia, in 1908. This text was the base for her first romance, published in 1915, when she was 37 years old, called The Voyage Out. Throughout her career, Virginia Woolf wrote many famous books, such as Orlando, To The Lighthouse, and The Waves. Her death was very tragic. It was during World War II, Woolf and her husband decided that, if England was invaded by the Germans, they would commit double suicide.
They were terrified that Leonard, who was a Jew, was in danger. In 1940, their house was destroyed by a German bombing. Since she was already emotionally unstable, these events pushed Virginia over the edge. On March 28 of 1941, when she was 59 and incapable of overcoming her despair, the writer put on a coat, filled the pockets with rocks, and dove into the Ouse River, where she drowned. Her body was found three weeks later.
‘Mrs Dalloway’ And The Stream Of Consciousness
It is impossible to talk about Virginia Woolf without mentioning Mrs. Dalloway, one of her most famous books. Published in 1925, the story is a voyage through the minds of London. It starts with a simple act: Clarissa Dalloway goes out to get flowers for her party. Only Virginia Woolf could turn a simple visit to the flower shop into a classic of British literature. What made the narrative so unique was the use of the stream of consciousness. This technique was invented by Édouard Dujardin, in 1888, but Woolf was the one who truly consolidated it.
“Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself”
“Mrs. Dalloway”, Virginia Woolf
Stream of consciousness is a narrative device that is the written equivalent to a character’s thought process — or a stylized way of thinking out loud. Therefore, reading can be quite challenging. The phrases are long, Virginia uses a lot of semicolons instead of periods, because thoughts don’t really end, and there are no chapters to keep that flow. Also, the reader gets into the head of many characters, but without any warning, which can make the book a bit difficult to read.
However, it is important not to get frustrated. If you’re going to read “Mrs. Dalloway”, go slowly, if you get lost, don’t be afraid to read the passage again or start over. Even though the book is pretty long, the whole story only takes 12 hours. The interesting thing about it is that, through the flashbacks and the thoughts of different characters, you get to know an entire life in only one day.
The book has no rush to end, so, neither should you. Take your time, but don’t give up. Trust me, it is worth it! It is one of the most beautiful and unique books I have ever read. Woolf explores the thoughts, feelings, moods, and expectations of characters in a seamless way. It can be intimidating and it’s not easy, but it is an experience like no other.
Feminism In ‘A Room Of One’s Own’
Virginia Woolf was definitely a woman ahead of her time. Another famous piece, A Room Of One’s Own, published in 1929, is a feminist essay based on conferences and lessons she had given in universities. In the book, she examines the female role in literature and brings the idea that “a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction”. So, part of the purpose of the essay is to encourage women to make their living through writing.
A Room Of One’s Own became crucial to the feminist movement and women’s literary studies. However, it was not the only book that showed her feminist thinking. In Three Guineas (1938), she continued to talk about feminist issues and also brought her insights about fascism and the war that had just begun.
With nine published romances and over 30 books of other genres, Virginia Woolf is still one of the most influential writers of world literature. Her creative and forward-thinking revolutionized the narrative of the 20th century. At the same time that she managed to write beautiful and poetic books, she also brought politics and defended women’s rights in her works.