Kathrin Ehlen
2011-07-19
Seminar paper from the year 2004 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 3,0, University of Paderborn (Anglistik und Amerikanistik), course: Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway and Two Recent Re-Writes, language: English, abstract: 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.
Stepping into The Hours felt like a curated art exhibit—exquisite, haunting, and meticulously crafted. Cunningham's intertwining narratives resonate with a kind of timelessness that's rare. The way he threads the lived experiences of his characters through Virginia Woolf's own 'Mrs. Dalloway' is both audacious and deeply moving. This is highbrow with heart, a must-add to any discerning reader's list. The prose is as rich as a well-aged coffee blend, making it a perfect weekend companion. This book is a 5 for its sophisticated narrative structure and emotional depth.
