Virginia Woolf

     In a society where women were not accepted into the work world, novelist, critic, and essayist Virginia Woolf writes to describe her profession: literature. In her writing, Professions for Women, Woolf uses modesty, imagery, and flowery language, to appeal to a female audience.  
    To begin, the author recalls her humble beginnings. She simply describes herself as "...a girl in a bedroom with a pen in her hand" (paragraph 2). She does not get into much detail about her adolescent experiences, and concludes the second paragraph by dismissing her qualifications as a professional worker. She states how little she deserves to be called a professional woman, and the little she knows of the struggles and difficulties of this life style. Modest indeed, Virginia Woolf humble qualification and love for literature is subtly refreshing.
    Next, Woolf captures her audience with fantastic imagery. In paragraph 3, the author describes the importance of maintaining a mind of your own. She writes of her encounters with a phantom who attempts to overtake her, forcing her to write in submissively. She writes, "The shadow of her wings fell on my page; I heard the rustling of her skirts in the room" (paragraph 3). Without using long, drawn out sentences, Woolf paints an imagine in the reader's mind. Her descriptions are detailed, yet subtle. This creative sense appeals to both men and women alike.
    Lastly, Virginia Woolf uses flowery language to outline her experiences. Unlike over political non- fiction writers such as Henry David Thoreau, author of On The Duty of Disobedience (1849),  Virginia Woolf writes in an sophisticated way that is neither condescending nor dry. Her beautiful use of prose enchants the audience and leaves an impact.
     I'm mystified by how effectively; how efficiently Virginia Woolf manages to write. I enjoyed her take on the topic of feminism. She is not overbearing, or scornful, or pompous; Virginia does not attempt to flash her intelligence within her writing as an underlying way to achieve superiority. Instead, she writes from the heart. Her self awareness and mastery of language exudes confidence, setting her apart from any author I have ever read from. Taking note of her simplicity, sophistication, creativity, and depth I hope to one day write in a similar way.