In this term paper I will show how a real person - Virginia Woolf - is presented as a fictional character in Michael Cunningham’s The Hours.
The title he chose for his book is the working title of Virginia Woolf’s novel Mrs Dalloway. Cunningham’s composed his work is composed of three interlacing parts, entitled “Mrs Woolf”, “Mrs Dalloway” and “Mrs Brown”. This fact hints at the possibility of his wanting to point out some relations between the authoress and her fictive offspring.
To get a most objective picture of how Virginia Woolf really was, I also used her diary edited by Anne Oliver Bell, and gave the information derived from there priority in completing this term paper.
Furthermore, I will compare Michael Cunningham’s version of Virginia Woolf with descriptions of her by people that were close to her: Virginia’s husband Leonard Woolf and her nephew Quentin Bell.
When comparing Cunningham’s novel with Virginia Woolf’s diary I found that there were so many interesting points I was reluctant to suppress that I decided to shorten my inquiries into the other two books in order not to go beyond a reasonable volume of this paper.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Virginia Woolf in Michael Cunningham’s The Hours
3. Virginia Woolf Based on her own Diary:
4. Virginia Woolf as Described by Quentin Bell:
5. Virginia Woolf as Described by Leonard Woolf:
6. Conclusion
Objectives and Core Topics
This term paper explores the portrayal of the historical figure Virginia Woolf as a fictional character within Michael Cunningham’s novel The Hours, evaluating the accuracy of this characterization by comparing it against primary biographical sources and personal accounts.
- Analysis of Virginia Woolf's characterization in The Hours
- Comparative study using Woolf’s own diary entries
- Evaluation of perspectives from Quentin Bell’s biography
- Examination of Leonard Woolf’s personal reflections
- Identification of authorial choices and omissions in fictionalizing biography
Excerpt from the Book
Virginia Woolf in Michael Cunningham’s The Hours
Michael Cunningham starts his novel with a prologue describing the suicide of Mrs Woolf in 1941. It is interesting that many of the sentences expressing the protagonist’s action are constructed after the same pattern: “She hurries...”, “She has left...”, “She walks on...” and so on, by which a kind of breathlessness and hurry is conveyed. Things Virginia might have noticed on her way to the river are pointed out, often in connection with striking colours. There are allusions to the war, to Virginia’s self-doubts as a writer and to her headaches. Cunningham also reports her last thoughts, her deliberations whether she should go back, her careful choice of a stone which she puts in her pocket to give her more weight. And finally he depicts her feelings when she goes into the water and is carried away by the current. This part of the chapter, which does not only tell about Virginia’s condition but also about what goes on inside of her, is interrupted by a report on the actions and reactions of Leonard and the maid on noticing that Mrs Woolf is missing and on reading her letter. Then the author continues describing Virginia’s way down the river.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: The author outlines the scope of the paper, specifically the analysis of Virginia Woolf as a character in Michael Cunningham’s novel and the methodology of using biographical accounts for comparison.
2. Virginia Woolf in Michael Cunningham’s The Hours: This chapter analyzes how Cunningham constructs Virginia Woolf's internal state and external circumstances, focusing on her mental health, her creative process, and her desire to leave Richmond.
3. Virginia Woolf Based on her own Diary:: An examination of Woolf’s diaries from 1923 and 1941, revealing her social observations, her struggle with depression, and her complex attitudes toward others.
4. Virginia Woolf as Described by Quentin Bell:: This section highlights insights from Quentin Bell’s biography regarding Woolf's appearance, her marriage, and her insecurities about aging and childlessness.
5. Virginia Woolf as Described by Leonard Woolf:: An analysis of Leonard Woolf's account, focusing on his perspective regarding Virginia's health, her rigid work routine, and the strain of her social life.
6. Conclusion: The summary evaluates the success of Cunningham’s characterization, noting that while he utilizes historical facts, he carefully selects and omits traits to align with his narrative goals.
Keywords
Virginia Woolf, Michael Cunningham, The Hours, Mrs. Dalloway, literary biography, fiction, characterization, mental health, Leonard Woolf, Quentin Bell, diary entries, 20th century literature, narrative analysis, suicide, Richmond
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this term paper?
The paper examines how the historical author Virginia Woolf is adapted into a fictional character in Michael Cunningham’s novel, The Hours.
What central themes are explored in this work?
The central themes include the interplay between reality and fiction, the depiction of mental health, the influence of biographical memory, and the struggle between domestic life and artistic ambition.
What is the core objective of the research?
The objective is to determine how faithfully Cunningham portrays Virginia Woolf by cross-referencing his novel with her personal diaries and biographies written by her husband and nephew.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author uses a comparative literature approach, contrasting primary biographical sources (diaries and biographies) against the fictionalized narrative provided by Michael Cunningham.
What is discussed in the main chapters?
The chapters cover individual perspectives on Woolf: her own diary entries, Quentin Bell's biographical observations, and Leonard Woolf’s memories, all contrasted with Cunningham’s specific narrative construction.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Keywords include Virginia Woolf, Michael Cunningham, The Hours, literary biography, characterization, mental health, and narrative analysis.
How does the author characterize Virginia Woolf's mental health in the novel?
The paper notes that Cunningham portrays her health as fragile, often linking her depressive states to her environment in Richmond and her obsession with her writing process.
Does the paper consider Cunningham’s portrayal to be an accurate biography?
No, the author concludes that it is not a "real" biography, as Cunningham consciously omits or emphasizes specific personality traits to serve his artistic vision.
What role do the diaries play in this research?
The diaries serve as the primary factual benchmark to measure the accuracy and deviation of the fictional portrayal presented in the novel.
- Quote paper
- Kathrin Ehlen (Author), 2004, Virginia Woolf as a Character in Michael Cunningham’s THE HOURS, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/175149
