What Happens

Continuing, the narrator comes to discuss the most recent books written by men and women who are still alive. Many of the books are authored by women—and not all of them are works of fiction. When reading a book, no matter its genre, one cannot make judgments about its contents as if it is an individual work without outside influence. Rather, it must be judged in relation to all the books that came before it and that worked to shape it into its current form.

The study of the fictional Mary Carmichael’s first book is given as one such example. The narrator says: “One must read it as if it were the last volume in a fairly long series, continuing all those other books that I have been glancing at.” Carmichael’s book may not have been written with immense skill or unique structure, but her declaration of “‘Chloe liked Olivia’” makes her an author willing to challenge the status quo and move beyond all the books that came before.

Section 6 returns to the narrator’s home. It is morning, and she studies the people on the street outside her window. This leads her to contemplate what Coleridge says about a wise mind needing to be “androgynous” and embody characteristics of both men and women. It is in this mind where a person is at their most creative point.

Unfortunately, the narrator recognizes, “sex-consciousness” is more prevalent in her time period than ever before. It is the very thing that limits creative ability, for “ it is fatal for anyone who writes to think of their sex.”

Recognizing that her essay must come to an end, Woolf acknowledges the arguments that will arise in the wake of her essay. To counter any criticism, she again establishes that “intellectual freedom” is dependent on wealth. Thus, a room of one’s own is necessary for good writing, in particular good female writing. She concludes with a call for women to make something of their lives. Only nine years before the publication of this essay, women were given the right to vote. This is proof that times are changing and women must put in the work to have their voices heard.

Why it Matters

Beginning the essay by highlighting the lack of women’s works, Woolf shows that, over time, women’s writing has morphed and changed over time. By the time of her writing, women wrote novels, were educated experts on many subjects, and had mastered the skill of poetry.

Mary Carmichael’s novel (though fictional) gives Woolf the ability to add made-up quotes that fit her purpose. The fabricated “‘Chloe liked Olivia’” conveniently segues to the narrator stating that “sometimes women do like women.” Relating to the “true nature” of women, this challenge to heteronormativity adds a nuance to the topics that are being analyzed in this essay. Besides that, it provides a connection to Woolf’s own novels that allude to female homosexuality, as in Mrs. Dalloway.

This challenge to society’s way of thinking also supports her opinion that women and men are actually much alike. Accepting this similarity is necessary for writers to write with an understanding of both male and female perspectives. Rather than writing strictly from a single point of view, possessing an “androgynous” mindset allows writers to convey a full range of human emotions and experiences.

Woolf also seems to encourage one to write without being too influenced by how the work will be received or how they will be judged as a person. Woolf’s final call to action is characteristic of a persuasive essay whose goal is to influence the minds of its audience. More than anything, however, Woolf particularly challenges her female audience. A Room of One’s Own is just as much a piece of feminist criticism as it is a research essay on fiction writing.