Woolf’s book “A Room of One’s Own” stands out as one of the most critically and well created books; in which she brings out women as outstanding individuals within the art of creativity and ability in various aspects. In her work especially chapters five and six, Woolf describes the untold and underlying ability of women in various activities especially under the art of writing. As it is revealed in these chapters, women have been discriminated in the past yet they have rich and potential minds, using which they emerge as being very artistic in literature writing among other works of creative (Woolf 113).
From the two chapters, Woolf describes women as being very influential within the society’s world of literature, and also in enhancing the smooth relaying of important concepts from one generation to another. More precisely, Woolf brings out women as people who despite being side-lined by men in the past; have shown the ability to make and propel the society’s world of creativity and integrity to higher levels (Woolf 85).
From the final stages of Woolf’s research about women and fiction as she points out within her book, she comes to the recognition that women’s work and abilities are far rooted within their predecessors. Additionally as she explains, women’s ability is in most cases stemmed to what other women in the past have been doing; and the sense that any other woman could still do the same as opposed to what many men think about women’s abilities. Within the two chapters, wolf describes how women can do more than what most men think of; and the perceptions that men have regarding women’s abilities within various activities (Woolf 79).
Within her research, Woolf studied various works by different women from which she clearly describes such works as having a sophisticated logic and possessing a high level of creativity; which she comes to use in comparing such works with those done by men; finding out how women can do marvelous even to a point of defeating men within the art of creative works.
In chapter five for instance, she describes Dorothy Osborne as a very gifted woman to an extent that; “Men were no longer to her ‘the opposing faction’…” (Woolf 81), which showed how she wanted women to be given opportunities to express themselves in which she believed that they would do greater things than the ones men, did. More specifically, this quote in chapter five puts it out clearly, Woolf’s findings about their ability and creativity are too high to an extent that given the time and opportunities; women can do a lot more than men imagined they could do
Perhaps, most women have been observed to follow the examples of their predecessors in various lines of work; within which they get motivated and encouraged to do better than what their predecessors have achieved. In this case therefore, the women’s works have been so amicable that, given the opportunities to indulge into various creative works they can even perform far much better than what men could have thought they can achieve.
Based on this view about women therefore, the title of the book,” A Room of Ones Own” by Virginia Wooolf is justified in these two chapters within which she advocates for women to be given enough opportunities and chances to express themselves; so as to enhance their prosperity in various aspects of life (Woolf 93).
In addition, the book by Woolf presents the perception of women being inferior creatures and ones who can not pioneer works as being a fiasco. In the fifth and sixth chapters of her book, Woolf brings out women as capable of coming up with original works and ones who can work on their own to a great extent. The presentation of women as fully responsible people by Wooolf in these two chapters brings a great contrast to what most men thought in the past, and nullifies the notion that women are always to follow the lead of men. Woolf further asserted that, women of late have come up with their own original creations both in literature and inventions; based on which she describes them as being highly creative and innovative individuals (Woolf 97).
For instance in chapter six, Woolf describes the future woman as, “…and the sky… being should shut out the view…” (Woolf 99). From these words, Woolf brings out woman as having the ability to be very innovative when given the freedom and chances to express her within the various aspects and areas. Additionally, Woolf in her research succeeds in bringing out the woman as a very potential individual within the society, and one capable of doing all things that men can; even without any external assistance.
More so, this concept is best explained when she asserted that, “…an unknown girl writes her first novel in a bed-sitting-room without enough of those desirable things, time, money and idleness…” (Woolf 88). Based on the above statement, Woolf describes Mary as an example of a woman who out of the available local resources emerged as a great writer of books.
Further, the writer describes women as being of people possessing a high ambition and motives which make them very reliable in various aspects of life. As it is clearly depicted within chapters five and six in Woolf’s book, women are being described of as of an unidentified importance that men have over time neglected; onto who a very heavy discrimination has been put onto. More specifically, women are being described as the pillars of the society within which without them; life would seem difficult and hard to manage with regards to its challenges. Woolf’s research further rationally considered the position of a woman within the society as irreplaceable, based on which she depicts the exceptional value of womanhood within the society which men over time have seemed to overlook and ignore (Woolf 93).
From this particular research, Woolf comes to a realization that the role played by women in the society is so crucial that, without them life would cease to be enjoyable and dissatisfaction would befall many men. As Woolf describes of the woman in chapter five, “…the qualities of a good mother, the devotion of a daughter or the fidelity of a sister; or the capacity of a housekeeper…” (Woolf 87), in which the benefits of the woman is clearly seen as non-determinable in addition of the fact that, she contributes a lot towards the smooth running of day to day activities (Woolf 90).
In various cases Woolf’s research identified most of the works by the woman in the society as having gone unidentified; based on which she describes this discrimination as one of a very high degree to women by men. She further asserted that, apart from many women being put under various learning programs together with men and engaging in similar professions to the ones men have; the ultimate recognition of a woman to the society and her entire role in maintaining the satisfaction of life is essential (Woolf 109).
From a wider global context, the writer comes to a realization that most men fear being defeated by women in various works and that is why they side-line and fail to recognize the works of women. Based on this consideration therefore; as Woolf in her book, “A room of Ones Own” argues that it is the inborn superiority in men that makes them feel greater than women; yet in real world situations women’s work has been found to outweigh various men’s work. Further, it is of a great importance to note that most women’s creativity and ability has gone unnoticed, due to the oppressive and discriminative society by men towards women’s works (Woolf 104).
As it has been revealed from the book, “A Room of Ones Own” by Woolf, the woman’s ability and significance to the society is of a great value to an extent that without women life would cease to have joy; and only that men have for long overlooked this credible role of women within the society. On this basis therefore, the men in the contemporary society should give women chances to explore their abilities and creativity, which would further enhance the development within society from all aspects.
Works cited
Woolf, Virginia. A Room of One’s Own. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (1999): 79-113.