Virginia Woolf Research Paper

943 Words2 Pages

Joy Johnson
Professor Kerr
English 2323
02 May, 2016
Who was Virginia Woolf?
Virginia Woolf, formerly known as Adeline Virginia Stephen was born January 5, 1882, in London, England. Woolf ended her life at the age of fifty-nine near Rodmell, England, on March 28, 1941. Woolf was known as a popular victorian novelist, her most popular novels were, To the Lighthouse, and Mrs. Dalloway. Woolf struggled a lot emotionally after the death of her mother, in 1895, then to make matters worse her half sister died in 1897. Woolf does not talk in detail about these tragic events, for it burdens her heart. The majority of Woolf's writings are based off events that have occurred in her life prior. Woolf educated herself by attending classes at the ladies …show more content…

Woolf was doubtful of her strength and ability to go through another storm, alive. Woolf pleads to her husband in her final words of, “I feel certain I am going mad again. I feel we can’t go through another of those terrible times. And I shan’t recover this time.” (Woolf, Virginia) She is believed to have bipolar disorder, and depression, because of her earlier life events at such a young age. At this time the rise of the Nazi Germany was taking place, and since Woolf’s husband was jewish, they were constantly on the run. The couple's home had been destroyed by the Blitz, completely turning their lives upside down. Leonard and Virginia had a tight bond, with him always by her side, and he knew when the time was coming for her death. He knew she was working on her last piece, Between the Acts, which analogizes her life during the beginning of World War …show more content…

Crichton-Miller, a psychologist emulates on “Suicide is man’s great retreat from life. He has recourse to it when he feels no longer able to endure suffering in the present or pain in the future.” (240, Miller) Virginia Woolf definitely felt overwhelmed with everything in her life. Two times were her and her husbands houses were bombed by the Blitz. She overcame death of a parent at a young age and her sister. Woolf struggled with depression, and at this time, society was not psychologically advanced to diagnose, and get the help needed. There are two different general types of reasons why people commit suicide, pain and frustration, and social suffering and fear. When Woolf took her life, it was caused by social suffering and fear. It was devastating, but the truth is her husband knew it was going to happen sooner or later, and he did nothing to stop her or get her some

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