Virginia Woolf: "A Room of One's Own"

Paper Summary:

In "A Room of One's Own", Virginia Woolf has much to say on the changing relationships among women, men, society and literary genres. The author of the paper shows that far more than simply the book form of Woolf's stirring, provocative lectures, it is practically a "feminist manifesto." This paper excerpts many passages from the book as "offset quotes." It then expounds, analyzes and comments on these examples of Woolf's work. The paper includes an analysis of Woolf's provocative concept of whether it's worse to be "locked out" or "locked in." Additionally, the paper discusses Woolf's (and society's) ideas relating to feminism and sexism and how these "isms" in turn relate to literature and the success or failures of male and female writers, particularly in the 19th Century.

From the Paper:

""So long as you write what you wish to write, that is
all that matters; and whether it matters for ages or
only for hours, nobody can say."

This is among Woolf's most moving passages. She is addressing a group of young women toward the end of her lecture, emphasizing the importance of women's writings and encouraging everyone interested to give it a try. Behind these words is an even deeper message: you never know who you touch. What may seem like a completely insignificant act of one person say the penning of a humble little sonnet can by of lasting influence to someone else if it stays in that person's memory. Even if the poet only wrote the sonnet for herself and thought it mediocre at best, someone decades or even centuries later might find inspiration in it. No one can say, even authors or poets themselves, what kind of impact their work might have in future generations. Only time can determine that."

More papers on Virginia Woolf: "A Room of One's Own":

• Book Review # 120184 : "A Room of One's Own" by Virginia Woolf"
• Analytical Essay # 89668 : "Virginia Woolf's "A Room of One's Own"
• Analytical Essay # 140696 : "Feminism in "A Room Of One's Own"

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