Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own - Book Report/Review Example

Here Virginia Woolf has pointed out many characteristics of gender studies through a fictional character called Mary Beton. This is the hypothetical character and the voice of Virginia Woolf. She everywhere experiences the gender discrimination which is filthy and persecuting. Through these experiences Virginia Woolf tries to establish the real status of the women in society. And thus comes to the conclusion that women need money and privacy to write. And unfortunately the reality is quite different Even though she has the makings of being an artist, she has been repressed Virginia Woolf, one of the most solemn female writers, has a fathom to her thoughts that reflects in her literary work.

In her article "A Room of One's Own," she discusses the writer's creativity and the gender discrimination in the artistic and literary world. The artist should never be entangled by the norms of gender, status, nationality and religion. But while acclaiming the artist the society has always shown the discriminative attitude towards the female sex. She is always supposed to be the second sex. Virginia Woolf here focuses on the destiny of a female artist. The artists have somewhat inward personality and before creating something they have to think on their art and for that they need a space so that they will be able to work without any disturbance.

"A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction." (Chapter1, 'Room of One's Own'). But here also the gender discrimination impedes in exposing the flair and the creativity in women artists and she has to sacrifice her creativity for the sake of the domestic and gendered responsibilities. Almost 90% of the household activities are done by the women. They have to give the priority to their family and domestic chores and hardly find a time to relish their art, their talents and to translate it on the paper of the society.

And it is the worst thing for the artist as well as for her friends, relatives and fans to see them losing her venting space. Here this gender space is shown through different aspects which are necessary to study if we want to study Virginia Woolf from the gender study point of view. She unfolds the various facets of the topic. She while talking on the subject women and fiction she first retorts that women must have the security and privacy Virginia Woolf is persistent about the financial independence of the women for their progress and freedom.

Gender consciousness always hampers creative outputsThe Tragedy of Lady ShakespeareTo discuss the predicament of the female artist here Woolf creates a hypothetical character called Judith Shakespeare. Judith is the image of those creative women whose destiny is associated with their objectivity i.e. feminism. Woolf claims that Judith Shakespeare was also very talented and she had the immense flair like William Shakespeare. But she was never encouraged to write. She couldn't get a chance to expose her talents as she was not educated and had to get married.

It depressed Judith and compelled her to end her life. There are many lady Shakespeares in the society who have been and are being muzzled by the male dominated society and so even though these ladies are undoubtedly brilliant remained derelict. While creating the imaginary character of Judith Shakespeare