Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf free essay sample

Anonymous Was a Woman For the overwhelming majority of human history, women have been viewed as subservient beings whose foremost functions were child rearing and homemaking. Until recently, it was widely accepted that a womans place was in the home; financial responsibility for the family fell exclusively on the mans shoulders. Recently, the distinct line distinguishing gender roles has become blurred and it is not uncommon for the woman to be the provider and her husband the homemaker. In the era immediately preceding the modern feminist movement, many individuals advocated omens rights and encouraged women to be fiscally and personally independent. One such advocate was the Victorian writer Virginia Woolf. During the era in which she lived, successful, proficient women were a rarity. However, Woolf avidly urged women to follow her example and surmount this societal obstacle in order to achieve professional accomplishment. In his 1961 play, Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Edward Albee creates Martha, who is essentially the antithesis of Woolfs independent, professional woman. We will write a custom essay sample on Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page While she is by no means the stereotypical meek and gentle ousewife of the early and mid twentieth century, Martha is clearly impeded by gender expectations. The feminism embodied by Woolf and typified in her speech, Professions for Women, provides insight into the underlying significance of the recurring song Whos afraid of Virginia Woolf as it relates to Martha in Albees play. In Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Albee delves into the stereotypical roles of men and women. Martha, the hostess wife, is depicted as a woman dependent on the aid of men. Before meeting her husband George, Martha lived under the support and guidance of her father. Even when she became an adult, her goal was not to find success, but rather to find a man whose success she could live through. The thought of personal sustainment was a fleeting one, if one at all. After knowing her guests, Nick and Honey, for a mere few hours, Martha drunkenly divulges to them intimate details of her life. When recounting her early adulthood, Martha says, So after I got done with college and stuff, I came back here and sort of sat around, for a while. I wasnt married, or anything I was a hostess for Daddy and I took care of him and it was nice. It was very nice. (Albee 85-86). Although she attended college, Martha never intended the fruit of her education to be applied professionally. While most college graduates might seek employment upon graduating, Martha had no such aim. Instead, she passively allowed herself to be pushed down the path that society had cleared for her. As with countless women before her, Marthas life was controlled by the men in it; until she married George, Martha was preoccupied with the care of her father. One man was seamlessly replaced by another and the hesitation in her speech suggests that she was less than satisfied with this. While Martha and many other women have succumbed to the pressures of society, a select few were able to overcome them and find success. Of these exceptional women, Virginia Woolf stands out as an intelligent, outspoken supporter of womens rights. The pit of reliance that Martha fell into was exactly what Woolf spoke out against. In her essay Three Guineas, Woolf states that, o depend on upon a profession is a less odious form absolutely necessary for women to break the shackles of financial dependence in order to be free. Through her various speeches, essays, and other writings, Virginia Woolf clarifies her opinions and proves to be an extremely intelligent and thoughtful woman. Woolfs mastery of language competes with some of the most revered male authors throughout history. Despite the male dominance in society, Virginia Woolf was able to elevate herself to an equal level. In addition to overcoming obstacles personally, Woolf actively advised other women to do the same. In her speech to a group of women in the National Society for Womens Service, Virginia Woolf elucidates the prejudices that stand in the way of women professionals (Woolf, Professions). Despite the advances made by her and other prominent females, Woolf insists that women must continue sincerely in the fght for professional liberty. As Woolf speaks earnestly in an attempt to promote female liberation and advancement, Martha counteracts the effort by taking a backseat position in her own life. After deciding she would like to secure her legacy at the university which her father runs, she concludes that the best and only way to accomplish this is by marrying into it. Instead of trying to become an active component herself, Martha relies on her relations with men, as she historically has, to solidify her fate. When she marries George, Martha expects that he will be able to rise to an authoritative position and will eventually replace her father as president; to her immense disappointment, George reveals himself as a flop and stands no chance of promotion (Albee). Throughout the play, Martha harps on George for his lack of professional accomplishment, but it is more than likely that some if not all of her disappointment in him stems from an even deeper dissatisfaction with herself. By continually matching wits with her husband, Martha proves to be a competent and cunning woman. Unlike Woolf, however, she refuses to channel her intellect roductively. Due to the impeding decisions that she repeatedly makes, Martha becomes the enslaved woman that Woolf so fervently rebukes. The third and final time the song Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf appears in the play, Martha responds by saying l am George am (Albee 257). In this closing scene, Marthas tough fapde crumbles revealing a poignant vulnerability. Obviously Martha is not literally afraid of Virginia Woolf; rather, she is intimidated by the values that Woolf embodies. While Martha may realize that she is capable of self-sustainment, she submits to the osition that society has put her in and relies on men to support her. Instead of using her intellect in the workplace as Woolf advises, Martha employs it maliciously and plays mind games with her houseguests. Without former knowledge of Virginia Woolf and her accomplishments, one might not fully or even remotely comprehend the implication of Marthas response. However, with the understanding of Woolf and her feminist values, it becomes clear why Marthas character might fear the strength and independence that Woolf promotes. As with countless women before her, Martha is weary of breaking the tradition of her male dominated society.