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Woolf Social Norms

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In her book-length essay A Room of One’s Own, Virginia Woolf argues that societal norms have impeded women’s ability to write fiction and pursue intellectual careers. Woolf creates a fictional character named Judith Shakespeare, who is the female equivalent of William Shakespeare. Judith epitomizes how gender can hinder the success of women, even when they possess the talent to create artistic works. While her brother is off working in the theatre, Judith remains home. “She was not sent to school” (47) nor had she had “chance of learning grammar and logic” (47). It is clear that her lack of education was a huge impediment to her potential artistic creations. In addition, Judith’s parents condemn her from reading books, commanding her “not
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