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A Room of One's Own

Some facts

Below will be enumerated a list of my favorite facts I have learned from this book.

  • Women were not allowed degrees at Yale until 1969

Notes

Like - Emily Bronte (pg. 48) - Jane Austen (pg. 48) - Shakespear Dislike - Charlotte Bronte

Comparison of Charlotte Bronte and Jane Austen on pg. 67

  • Chapter 2
    • Establish imbalance, inferiority
  • Chapter 3
    • How does this affect women in the arts

  • Civilization, by human nature, is based on acquisition, conquer and control require violent and heroic action. The patriarch, the conqueror must generate the illusion of self-confidence some how, and the easiest way to do this is through a belief in innate superiority, generated through the belief of innate inferiority. (pg. 35)

    • Men are poisoned by their side as well (pg. 38)

    • It is instinctual, individuals cannot be blamed for their existence (participation?) in this civilization. (pg. 38)

      • one must remove oneself from this system/mindset to see clearly
  • Fixed income brings autonomy, frees the mind of hate and resentment, allows for impartiality
    • removal of dependence, socially (generate wealth or well-being through connections) and fiscally (working for wealth)
  • Not even equality in every aspect is a sure thing in the case that women stop being the protected sex. In 100 years women will possibly live such short lives after being exposed to the same elements. (pg. 40)
  • Established the imbalance exists, but how does it affect women in fiction??
  • Women in the 17th century had no chance at becoming a great writer, at "genius"

    • All the conditions of her life, all her own instincts, were hostile to the state of mind which is needed to set free whatever is in the brain. (pg. 49-50)

    • Publicity and Chastity (pg. 50)
  • What is this state of mind propitious to creation? (pg. 50)
    • Confession and revelation of consciousness was not much of a thing before Rousseau, but we can extrapolate backwards and assume the same can be said for Shakespeare, Aphra Behn, Jane Austen
    • Material circumstances are against this feat; interruptions, responsibilities; the world is indifferent to writers of poems, novels and histories
    • Men are met with indifference, women are met with hostility