Читать книгу What She Said - Monica Lunin - Страница 18

When: 1928

Where: University of Cambridge

Audience: Female students from Newnham College and Girton College

Bloomsbury novelist Virginia Woolf was known for her innovative approach to writing and her non-linear storylines. She was complicated and complex in both her character and the way she made sense of the world. The writer made a significant impact on modern fiction and continues to fascinate readers 80 years after she died. In addition to writing fiction, Woolf was prolific in her exploration of ideas and opinions through letters, essays and talks.

In 1928, Woolf was invited to speak to the female students from Newnham College and Girton College at the University of Cambridge on the subject of ‘Women in fiction’. Her thoughts culminated in a piece called ‘Shakespeare's sister’, which was later included in her famous extended essay A Room of One's Own.

The piece is remarkable for its insight and creativity. The audience is delivered a slice of wisdom from the renowned author that is entertaining and thought-provoking. Nearly 100 years later, ‘Shakespeare's sister’ continues to inspire women, especially those looking to pursue a creative career. From Shakespeare's time, through that of the Bloomsbury Group in the early twentieth century, to our modern experience, Woolf shines a light on the inequity of the female experience. Her speech still sparks consideration and discussion on this matter, which is far from resolved.

Woolf's creation of ‘Shakespeare's sister’ is emblematic of all women who have faced the inequalities of opportunity. In continuing these ideas, A Room of One's Own sets out a case for the independent means a woman must fiercely acquire and protect in order to summon the creative forces she has. In Woolf's view, this independence is the minimum requirement for even a hope of equal participation.

Woolf's lecture continues to deliver guidance nearly a century after it was delivered. This speech (reproduced in full here) is also an exemplar of Virginia Woolf's meandering thoughts, so beautifully and hauntingly rendered.