Virginia Woolf was a writer who showed her concern and disapproval with the fact that women are so poorly represented in history. As she mentions: “…looking about the bookshelves again, is that nothing is known about women before the eighteenth century. I have no model in my mind to turn about this way and that.” (Woolf 844) This shows the role that women played in a “man’s world”. Virginia Woolf states that every time she did a search on women, it either came up as an article about wife beating or about the lack of rights that women had. Men were the rulers of society and women were “slaves” who would be given into marriage without their consent and then suscept to an unfair and degrading treatment by their husbands. Every time a woman is mentioned, she is one of great fame and personal strength and only then it has been recorded. Otherwise, women as a class did not exist and their rights and freedoms were unheard of. Her displeasement can be compared to Martin Luther King’s fight for the rights of African-Americans. In the same way, history and societies have belittled and violated the equal living of both women and minority groups. Women had to face the challenge alone and quietly, doing anything they were told without any possibility of refusing or retaliating. They were forced down as a whole group and for a very long time, men dominated the world and societies. The same is true when Dr. King talks about the oppression that was going on towards his fellow African Americans. They were put down and had to face injustice and discrimination of the white man. Both Woolf and Dr. King use their power of mind and speech in order to make themselves heard. Virginia Woolf is said to have written in a “controlled and cool tone” this is because “she wrote with knowledge that most men were very conservative. In 1929, people would not read what she wrote if she became enraged on paper. They would turn the page and ignore her argument” (Woolf 839). This shown that she was very intelligent, talented and witty. When a person who does not want to be heard by other finds a way to be heard, it proves that this individual has great knowledge of themselves and the surrounding society, of people and their individuality, views and regulations that frame people’s minds. The same can be seen in Martin Luther King’s addresses to the nation, governments and societies. His speeches were filled with sense and facts; otherwise, he would not be heard or listened to. He uses strong evidence and support for his words, as can be seen in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” (King 213). The struggle that Martin Luther King and Virginia Woolf led against the majority is one of intellect and faith. They do not use violent ways or angry and diminishing words. Their only weapon is reason and non-violent conflict resolution, which proved to be very effective. It is interesting to compare the views of Virginia Woolf and those of Stephen Jay Gould in his work “Nonmoral Nature.” Gould talks about the nature of animals and insects and how their cruelty cannot be seen as such, as it is only a product of natural order, of a force that is neutral to suffering (Gould 636). Here, the goal is not to hurt but to survive and continue the dominance of a certain specie or group. Virginia Woolf represents women who were put down for very long for no apparent reason. It creates a great contrast to the “Nonmoral Nature” because women’s abuse is done by people to other people. It seems impossible how one human being can act in such a violent and hurtful manner towards another one. And the fact that women are in such need of protection and care, sometimes more than anyone else, it is hard to imagine how this devastating treatment could go on for such a long time. The evil that men created and acted out towards women cannot be seen in any other light except in an immoral and dominant one. It was based on power and moral limits of the time and people that thought it was acceptable to treat their fellow human beings in such a way. This shows, once again, how ignorant, selfish and self-centered humanity can be, not an individual but a great number of people, whole societies that are well developed but at the same time lack the basic principles in a fair treatment of others.
Virginia Woolf is one of a few women who have made their point very obvious and effective. They have shown the world and societies that they should be ashamed of themselves. She proves that it is better to fight with intelligence and respect than weapons and harsh words. Her points make it clear that the way women were treated is not a part of nature’s great design; it is a part of human great flaw that must be eradicated.
Works Cited
Gould, Stephen. “Nonmoral Nature,” Further Reflections in Natural History. New York, United States: W. W. Norton, 1994. 32-44. Print.
King, Martin. “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” A World of Ideas. Ed. Jacobus, Lee. New York, United States: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013. 211-231. Print.
Woolf, Virginia. A Room of One’s Own. Peterborough, Canada: Broadview Press, 2001. Print.