I always knew A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf was a novel (maybe my ignorance) and was surprised to discover one day at a bookstore that it’s a compilation of Woolf’s lectures at Oxford. The lectures are on literature with a keen focus on feminism. From Woolf’s childhood and how she was brought up as against her brothers’ upbringings to the misogyny of famous writers and thinkers, it includes everything. Woolfs, by the way, were a huge brood of siblings.
The lectures are a constant attack on patronizing attitude towards women. The attacks are well-reasoned arguments from a proud feminist and intellectual, and not laments of someone seeking sympathy. Woolf shines a light on women geniuses who had to give up on their pursuits because of discouragements and beliefs of a male-dominated society. Some of these women live in perpetual obscurity. She talks about talented women who had to give up on their talent and continue to live in obscurity overshadowed by their male relatives, or known only by their association with them. A very-talented sister of Shakespeare, who had undeniable literary talent, lies in an obscure grave. Similarly, there are many other women who gave up on their literary aspirations sometimes in fear of what other male writers would say about their outputs and it was considered completely normal to do so. She also talks admiringly about 19th century greats like Austin and Gorge Eliot.
A Room Of One’s Own is not political feminism with some predefined villains and an agenda. The views are mainly framed by personal experiences and reading.
Casual Notes 