Virginia Woolf Analysis

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Virginia Woolf is considered to be one of the most influential modernist writers of the 20th century. In order to demonstrate the modernist elements of Woolf’s works, two of her essays will be compared and contrasted. “Modern Fiction” and “A Room for One’s Own” are regarded as modernists texts and share feminist themes but differ in terms of focus. Despite feminism already being present in English literature at the time these works were published, Woolf displays her modernist qualities by discussing feminism in an original manner. Her approach to feminism in these two works are critical in regards to the treatment of women writers. In “Modern Fiction”, Woolf shares her thoughts on writers from older generations and urges current modernist writers to discuss how they feel instead of publishing what is expected of them. On the other hand, “A Room for One’s Own” focuses on women as writers and as fictional characters. It explores multiple themes…show more content…
Furthermore, Woolf argues that writers no longer write about what is important, which to her is a waste of skill. She also shares her distaste for editors and publishers, stating that they are tyrannical in the sense that they are controlling, money hungry, and only wish to sell what society demands. In “Modern Fiction”, Woolf states: The writer seems constrained, not by his own free will but by some powerful and unscrupulous tyrant who has him in thrall, to provide a plot, to provide a comedy, tragedy, love interest, and an air of probability embalming the whole so impeccable that if all his figures were to come to life they would find themselves dressed down to the last button of their coats in the fashion of the hour. The tyrant is obeyed; the novel is done to a
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