Virginia Woolf's 'The Love of Reading': an Analysis

The Love of Reading is a short literary essay written by Virginia Woolf in 1931, whom is a well-known modernist writer and feminist of the twentieth-century. The essay explores many different concepts, from how one should read a book, to why we may read in general. It discusses the notion of reading and how it is more than just a fundamental process, but what Woolf calls a “complex art” (Woolf and McNeillie 271). Although, Woolf presents some thought-provoking and stimulating ideas, there appears to be an important aspect which arises throughout the essay, and in the specific passage provided above. That is, the mention of writers and readers, more so, the essay demonstrates that male readers and writers take precedence over female one’s.

Throughout the essay one can hear a distinctive voice, this voice is that of Woolf’s. lt doesn’t overwhelm the reader, however it emits somewhat of an acquainted and conversational tone. However, it also appears that the reader here would be someone who knows about literature, who wants to read more precisely, who wants to understand and be given an account on how reading should be executed. There is a method, there are certain steps the reader needs to take, to truly do writers and their works justice – there needs to be a level of impartiality. When one is reading through each line, it feels as if Woolf is engaging with the reader, having a fluid conversation that is filled with thought and opinion. Yet, through the writing, the author’s critical and analytical style transcends throughout. Almost as if the essay should be considered as a fundamental piece to read, to take on board a more serious disposition and to truly articulate what the work is trying to express or illustrate. The essay is setting forth an argument from the onset, on how readers should be reading.

In the chosen passage, what can be highlighted is the use of the literary canon. In this context, the literary canon refers to the literary works that have been considered as important and national literature by critics and academics. Woolf states in the following line, “The great writers thus often require us to make heroic efforts in order to read them rightly”. Woolf states “To go from Defoe to Jane Austen, from Hardy to Peacock, from Trollope to Meredith, from Richardson to Rudyard Kipling…” (Woolf and McNeillie 272). The reader can imagine these names uttered by Woolf to be a noteworthy selection of writers, yet, there is something of importance here that must be brought to light. The references are made largely to that of male writers, from Daniel Defoe, Thomas Hardy, Thomas Love Peacock, Anthony Trollope, George Meredith, Samuel Richardson, Rudyard Kipling, and with an exception to Jane Austen.

From the above, there is a clear indication that male writers take precedence over female writers. Not only does this highlight a form of superiority, this echoes the notion of the social and historical context and how it plays out within the essay. Within both, Woolf’s time, and the previous literary periods, women were not viewed as ‘great writers’, it was a male dominated field (the Cambridge companion to Virginia woolf). Literature and writing were reserved for men and there was a form of oppression towards the opposite sex. This can be emphasised from other sentences written within the essay. For example, “…We get the most judgement of the great critics – the Johnsons, the Drydens and the Arnolds” (Woolf and McNeillie 273). Once again, these ‘great critics’ are none other then males. Samuel Johnson, John Dryden and Matthew Arnold are deemed as ‘great critics’, but this also reveals how male dominated the literary field was. Reviewers or critics alike played a major role in selecting which literary works were important or of value. Affecting the overall nature and type of literature that was being produced/published in a specific period of time. Once again, the literary canon comes into play. Critics, scholars, reviewers were all important figures in the publication of manuscripts and literature. However, as highlighted above, many positions were filled by men. Not only was literature a field dominated by men, there was an assumption that those reading the works were also primarily men or those from a higher regarded background or disposition.

With this sense of dominance, male writers had been provided with a level of authority and influence. Allowing them to have control over certain opinions and political stances that were being delivered, most commonly through their own works and literature. The audience or reader here that these books were targeted at were primarily male readers or middle/upper-middle and higher-class individuals in society. Women played a very small role, they simply observed what was occurring. Unfortunately, many were obliged to work harder in order to be heard and many of their works often went unpublished. As critics, reviewers and the writing field was led by that of men. The work of women was viewed as primarily weak, of low standards, or even so, not taken seriously. Many women often wrote under different names (male pseudonyms) or anonymously in order to be accepted for publication.

This level of prejudice and oppression was of the norm. Another statement by Woolf is of importance, “Each has a view, a temperament, an experience of his own which may conflict with ours but must be allowed to express itself fully if we are to do him justice. And the writers who have most to give us often do most violence to our prejudices, particularly if they are our own contemporaries… (Woolf and McNeillie 272). Many of these writers did have their own views that would conflict with the readers, but upon reading this, it sounds as if the views are conflicting with that of Woolf’s. Referring to the aforementioned writers and critics, the notion of male dominance circulates through again. Their effects on politics and their overall writing was not always agreeable with that of readers, in this case Woolf.

That of ‘contemporaries’ and disagreements that may arise in their works, yet ‘to do him justice’ the reader must put these aside in order to truly enjoy them (reference). Woolf’s use of word choice is of interest, in this case the word ‘violence’, is harsh or negative and expresses a sense of disdain in relation to writers. When analysing this, the reader must try to articulate what is truly being said or conveyed. Additionally, the language and use of the pronouns ‘we’, ‘us’ and ‘our’ are inviting and essentially addressing the reader. It is engaging, almost as if the author is intending to build a relationship with reader. This directedness creates a sense of openness but also allows the reader to be aware of their character and potentially their argument. It allows the reader to try and understand what the reader is expressing, arguing and stating on a deeper level. Not only does this language and word use appear in this passage, it is reoccurring throughout the essay.

It is important to note, that a certain sense of contradiction arises from this essay and passage above. Although male writers were considered the most prominent, it is not to question that Woolf as the author did not mention more women. Woolf, as a feminist, did not play an advocate in this essay. One could have expected Woolf to of referenced or potentially argued the importance of other great women writers; such as the Bronte sisters, Mary Shelley, Elizabeth Gaskell, Louisa May Alcott, Kate Chopin etc. It seems strange to simply apply such high praise to male writers – particularly as a female writer and reader. However, maybe it was the intent to emphasis this gap between the male writer taking precedence over the female writer. To illustrate what was viewed as a normal account which envelopes the notions of bias and prejudice that led the forefront of literary works.

To conclude, Woolf’s essay on reading is an interesting and admirable piece. The passage chosen delves deeper into the social, historical, political and literary contexts on the time and how these had an effect on writers. From this, the text almost points out the lives of women and the society that they lived in. It draws on the concept of reading, literature and how these played an important role in society and its globalisation. Most importantly, it has highlighted the significant roles that men have played throughout time. It has addressed the notion of males and how they have been viewed as superior and have had precedence over women. Nevertheless, Woolf’s work has helped to develop a place for women in a male dominated society, specifically in relation to literature. Her work is of great importance and merit. Referring to modern day society, she is now considered a part of the literary canon and one of the ‘great writers’.