Virginia Woolf Log Book

2013 HS

VIRGINIA WOOLF

LOG BOOK

LEE, YEWON

Log book

•                 Keeping a log book of your reading before and after the  session so that you can see how your view of the theoretical issue or fictional reading changed

Mrs. Dalloway

- Before the session

1. The Book Mrs. Dalloway

The novel starts in a perspective of the protagonist Mrs.Dalloway, however such view is not sustained with disruption of other protagonists’ perspectives. It makes it difficult for the readers to catch up on whose mind the sentence derives from. Other than such a difficulty, the book is read well. On top of that, despite the difficulties, it’s that “stream of consciousness” of Virginia Woolf that attracts me, because it’s showing the protagonists’ direct thoughts without any veils and thus realistic.

- After the session

1. The Book Mrs.Dalloway

Virginia Woolf has a rather positive view among the city whilst she reflects all parts of the city. Therefore the homeless are also included in the novel as a way to suggest that the city is for everybody. However, Woolf somehow creates an ironical ambiguity through describing such unlovable parts of the city.

In light of the perspective of characters, Peter and Clarissa have different view towards the city. Peter sees London as somehow monumental and unmoving while Clarissa sees it as moving and full-of-life.

To the Lighthouse

- Before the session

1. The Book To the Lighthouse

I found the structure of the book relatively interesting. The first and the longest chapter consisting a story of a few days and then the second chapter with the story of a few years with the big headlines and no such details as the first one.  I found the protagonist of this book somehow very similar to Mrs. Dalloway. Both of the ladies are very prestigious women with high social status. The character I came to sympathize with the best is Lily. Some how I felt so sorry for Lily that she has to bear such an enormous person, Clarissa. Her influence on Lily was so huge that to me it seemed as if Lily was spontaneously made to follow whatever Clarissa advises her to do. It was only after Clarissa’s death that Lily was able to finish painting Clarissa’s portrait, too. Clarissa seemed as an influential character that affects others even after death.