-Inspired by Virginia Woolf’s ‘A Room of One’s Own’.
‘A woman must have a money and a mind of her own if she has to write’. I stand by this sentence slightly amended according to my reasoning. Money, for realising her dreams of serious writing into a reality, financial support actually makes them think independent, plan different. Mind of her own, for her own space which otherwise is a game, fate plans. Any discussion about the sex becomes controversial and one can’t hope to tell the truth, but I thought I will risk to show why I came to hold whatever opinion I do hold, deprived of one of the essentials mentioned earlier necessary for writing.
Mind could be the outcome of an excitable heart. To come out and breathe, the way a woman need to, to see the beauty of the world along with its agonies, you need a mind. One may not possess that to tell the reading community the truth devoid of facts. Mind, to think and pen what others unthink, to preserve every drop of truth without running through the fingers. Mind, to ponder over the frivolous thoughts a woman gets staring at an avalanche of books sliding down to the desk in front of them. Mind to think their gender has qualities apart, also to question the depiction of woman characters in books men write.
The inner conflicts that go through in the mind of a woman character, her self explanations for her deeds, her choices over one another pose a real threat for a man to portray. It’s easy to characterise her as an epitome of selfless love, a whore, a typical mother, or a traitor. Going beyond, trying her true nature, her justifications unparalleled and unquestioned with her mood swings are areas where men usually finds difficulty. The portrayal of a woman protagonist or an antagonist is more true, acceptable and justifiable when it’s penned by a woman. Nora remains misunderstood until the play ends and her final action of shutting the door in Henrik Ibsen’s ‘A Doll’s House’ could have been a slap direct so that Nora gets self satisfaction as the readers do. Throughout the play, even once she couldn’t convince her husband of her true intentions.

So is the case in Oscar Wilde’s portrayal of Cecily Cardew in The Importance of Being earnest,as a silly, immatured girl and Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax as a matured girl, sacrifice when the readers think of a possible counter movement, in spite of the fact that it’s a comedy. Meena Biswas in Arun Joshi’s ‘A strange Case of Billy Biswas’ is a virtual defeat of self respect a married woman possess. Bilasia is wonderfully portrayed in the beginning, towards the end the character becomes weak. A few case studies are here to prove my point.
The effect of tradition and the lack of tradition on the mind of a writer defines the stream which the writer belongs to. Unfortunately, when a woman writer goes beyond her defined realms to make a character, in effect an actual representation, she’s declined. In her effort to redefine her strong feelings, concept of love, the changes she expect within the family and beyond, she is labelled as a rebel. Yes, this happens right now! You take the name of Madhavikkutty(Kamala Das) among the literate men folk, they will start at you with a guffaw! Literature and further learning could never change the mindset of ‘learned’ men. Such men write novels about women. What an epiphany!
This is the space I was speaking about. Why are some areas exclusively reserved for men as it’s their safe zones? Writing is all about a free mind and a free hand. When it’s tied around by the norms the writer is expected to perform, writing loses its virginity.
‘How we are fallen! fallen by mistaken rules, And Education is more than Nature’s fools;debarred from all improvements of the mind,And to be dull, expected and designed.And if someone would soar above the rest, With warmer fancy, and ambition pressed, So strong the opposing faction still appears, The hopes to thrive can ne’er outweigh the fears.’ Here’s Lady Winchilsea bursting out in indignation against the position of women in 1680 s. Tell me, what has changed substantially?
‘Who blames me? Many, no doubt, and I shall be called discontented. I could not help it: the restlessness was in my nature; it agitated me to pain sometimes…’ A poet who never wrote a word and was buried at the cross-roads still lives in you and in me and in many other women! When Woolf concludes her curious queries and conceptions on Women and Fiction giving her readers food for thought, it’s time for me to conclude my essay which is the outcome of a week’s reading,hope my selected readers would love it.
Very thoughtful. But
What does feminism mean to you?
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Freedom of movement, the freedom to think, express, establish, evolve ideas along with safety and security.
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Feminism literally means the advocacy of equal rights and opportunities to all genders. But the fact that there are individuals who misinterpret the concept of feminism and use it against men doesn’t really change what it actually is. Let’s just think you have misunderstood the meaning of a term and use it incorrectly, does the world really change it’s meaning and does it change for the entire world too?
I have often heard that if feminism is all about equality “Can I slap back a woman if she slaps me?”🙃😊
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I don’t stick to the interpretation the world has given to the concept. I think independently and that’s how I define terms. Equality of sexes come not from cries, but by deeds as many countries got independence, cries were only a part of it. Acceptance from an educated, equally broad-minded society can supplement the formation of a good attitude.🤗
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Of course your viewpoint is correct. The problem is with the contorted meaning of the word, like you rightly said. The emotion is still true Madam. ☺
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“Money is the gateway around tradition allowing *Woman* the freedom to attain her goals without traditional shackles pushing her out of the mainstream that *Men* take for granted.”_-Van Prince
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Half true, to me!
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You are only 50% away from attaining your goals *&* I am pulling for you!
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‘&’ is just a clause here, I suppose…
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You are really *&* truly a poetic soul!
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“Being an independent thinker as well as a critical thinker define those who comprise the former *&* latter as leaders that attain equality for those left out of it.”_-Van Prince
Such thinking have me writing a manuscript for a book, titled, *THE GENDER GAP*
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That’s great! Hope THE GAP reduces after its read.☺
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When the book is read the gender gap will be erased!
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There’s still a gap between ‘Reduces’and ‘Erased.’ 😄
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I am here to represent women as my mother taught me volumes about women *&* I am on a mission to bring women equality, the type of equality that men take for granted; yet their are many men who support women on this issue!
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Salute and respect the WOMAN who taught you the right.
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There is nothing or something like a mother but another mother who is your grandmother, your mother’s mother!
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🙄😣
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you are clever=(smile)
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For?
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We area-can’t-miss-team in creativity!
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We-are- a team for creativity!
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Sounds great=thank you for being you!
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😀
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you are you, rare, priceless*&* unforgettable!
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Thanks(deleted).
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Why?
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Because I have already thanked you enough😂. Still need or what?
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More creativity in the deeper realms of innovation!
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Oops!
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The definition of a new chapter!
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Titled?
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Debut-Intermission-Encore (Forevermore)!
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Could have been still better.
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“Time has told, Time is telling, *&* Time will tell again.”_-Van Prince
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Woman is the Mother of Mankind
Woman is the Moral Fiber of Civilization
Woman is man’s First Teacher
Woman is Smarter than man
Woman if you encounter a Man smarter than a woman
Woman you meet 1-Man-out-of-100-with-99-hanging-in-the-balance
By: Van Prince
>From my manuscript for a book, titled, *The Gender Gap* to be published in the near future<
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Good luck! Shall I ensure my free copy😆?
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Yes, you will receive a free copy (word). I cherish and respect you *&* all those who are kind as you! I meant it. I do!
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Thanks Again Dear…Prayers assured for its grand success.
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You deserve the best productivity!
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My privilege to have come across one among the few!
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Compliments always take me by surprise, and your compliment is a pleasant surprise *&* thank you for a gift wrapped surprise from your brilliant creative mind!
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Compliments straight from the heart, not mind😁
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You are verb superb in talent!
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😂😊😅
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Your words, I love words,poets build new worlds with words, and believe this your words are fresh, refreshing, *&* energetic!
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Prince, I have always loved to be lost in the land of literature, I am happy You feel words when written. Thank you!
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“Words are the jewels that set world stages where kings *&* presents rule (kings) *&* govern from (presidents)!!”_- Van Prince
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All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players- Shakespeare😂
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I just pen a post in your honor titled *Writer*
“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” – William Shakespeare
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I wonder how to thank you Prince.
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You already have thanked me Ms. rekhashivam=keep writing!
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I writing have come full circle equal to men, and women have used this success to help, Van Prince, to erase the Gender Gap!
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erases this one (error) and use the other one (correction)-thank you!
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You should have born in the Victorian Era, your words remind me of Charles Dickens.
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‘Great Expectations” *&* Oliver Twist’ By: Charles Dickens!
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A Tale of Two Cities and then A Christmas Carol.
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Greatness!
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😂
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you are great!
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I am silly too as you proved a while ago.
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but you learned from whatever, you are human, and it will workout!
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TIME must answer it…
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I try!
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In writing women have come full circle equal to men, and women have used this success to help, Van Prince, to erase the ‘Gender Gap.’
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Erasing the gap between minds are important too, right?
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Yes, the ball is in your court and meet me there without delay!
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I am learning to toss…
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