This book is Woolf's biography of the fictional character Orlando. The language is light and humorous, making it an especially easy read among Woolf's works.
Orlando was originally an aristocratic boy who was deeply favored by the queen and loved poetry. However, he suffered a double betrayal of literature and love. After a fire, he suddenly turned into a woman... The wanton youth of the Elizabethan era, the moist lust of the Victorian era, the wind of 400 years blowing here and there, the sky for women is getting lower and lower. In modern times, Orlando had to adapt to the trend of the times and became a wife and mother, but he never forgot to find himself.
"Orlando" is hailed as a feminist classic and a pioneer work that tells the story of "The Second Sex" from a literary perspective. Using the words of Orlando, Woolf witty and boldly satirized gender prejudice, and delicately described women's survival dilemma and self-awakening. In the author's writing, the world is vast and complex, time is constantly changing, and genders are not antagonistic. Regardless of men or women, being able to be yourself is more important than anything else.
Reader comments
Woolf places her thoughts on gender on Orlando, and the playful irony is so gentle. The setting of male first and then female is really ingenious and clever. If it were the other way around, it would be difficult to have such a soft reflection and smooth transition. All in all, genius writing.
This book is very interesting! Woolf is really a talented writer, and her character Orlando experiences many interesting things after her gender transition. This reminds me of some of my friends who are also struggling to find their own identity and positioning. Some of the plot points in the book, such as Orlando's pursuit of love and literature, resonated with me. I feel this is not only a book about feminism, but also a book about life and self-discovery. I like this book very much and recommend it to you!
Everyone has multiple selves. What is this self? It's the me that we have been pursuing or fantasizing about and expecting to live.
The author said that "Orlando" has more than 2,000 selves. The book only writes about a few of her selves, one is him when he was a boy longing for the wilderness, one is him when he was a wild youth, one is him when he was an ambassador, one is her when she became a woman, one is her when she is pursuing poetry, one is her after getting married, and one after she becomes a mother.
Many of him (her) are her selves and the life she has imagined and wanted.
By shifting to different timelines and spaces, she describes how she expected to experience the lifestyles of various eras.
At the same time, it also describes that each period has a "zeitgeist", which can also be said to be the social environment.
For example, when she became a woman, the spirit of the times required her to become pitiful and accept help from men. The social environment was like this. She also questioned it, but slowly she accepted it.
Including marriage, do women have to marry? She also asked in it, must women wear that ring? Although she said no to herself, her heart hurt that she left him in an era. But in a blink of an eye, the author married her in another era.
Then in 1928, this "spirit of time" changed again, and the requirements for makeup and figure and the pursuit of material luxury began to demand what women should do.
Different eras have different "zeitgeist" requirements for what women should do.
In fact, the "spirit of the times" is also asking what men should do? Bravery, wealth, responsibility, etc. Seem to be taken for granted, but in fact they are also limitations.
On self-awareness and sexual growth.
While reading, I sighed countless times, how could Woolf be so talented~ (●'◡'●)
Woolf places her thoughts on gender on Orlando, and the playful irony is so gentle. The setting of male first and then female is really ingenious and clever. If it were the other way around, it would be difficult to have such a soft reflection and smooth transition. All in all, genius writing.
This book is very interesting! Woolf is really a talented writer, and her character Orlando experiences many interesting things after her gender transition. This reminds me of some of my friends who are also struggling to find their own identity and positioning. Some of the plot points in the book, such as Orlando's pursuit of love and literature, resonated with me. I feel this is not only a book about feminism, but also a book about life and self-discovery. I like this book very much and recommend it to you!
Everyone has multiple selves. What is this self? It's the me that we have been pursuing or fantasizing about and expecting to live. The author said that "Orlando" has more than 2,000 selves. The book only writes about a few of her selves, one is him when he was a boy longing for the wilderness, one is him when he was a wild youth, one is him when he was an ambassador, one is her when she became a woman, one is her when she is pursuing poetry, one is her after getting married, and one after she becomes a mother. Many of him (her) are her selves and the life she has imagined and wanted. By shifting to different timelines and spaces, she describes how she expected to experience the lifestyles of various eras. At the same time, it also describes that each period has a "zeitgeist", which can also be said to be the social environment. For example, when she became a woman, the spirit of the times required her to become pitiful and accept help from men. The social environment was like this. She also questioned it, but slowly she accepted it. Including marriage, do women have to marry? She also asked in it, must women wear that ring? Although she said no to herself, her heart hurt that she left him in an era. But in a blink of an eye, the author married her in another era. Then in 1928, this "spirit of time" changed again, and the requirements for makeup and figure and the pursuit of material luxury began to demand what women should do. Different eras have different "zeitgeist" requirements for what women should do. In fact, the "spirit of the times" is also asking what men should do? Bravery, wealth, responsibility, etc. Seem to be taken for granted, but in fact they are also limitations.
On self-awareness and sexual growth.
While reading, I sighed countless times, how could Woolf be so talented~ (●'◡'●)