Comparing Woolf and Dillard

While reading A Room of One's Own, I discovered that Annie Dillard and Virginia Woolf are quite similar.  Woolf states, "a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction." (4)  Towards the beginning of Dillard's The Writing Life, the author explains how she moved to single small room cabin on a remote island to finish a book.  Both women initially believed that having a room of one's own would be beneficial for their writing.

Woolf and Dillard share similar thoughts about the end product of a work as well.  Dillard expresses her thoughts about an ideal vision for her work.  She then continues to explain that her final product never turns out to be what she had pictured in the first place.  "It is rather a simulacrum and a replacement." (18)  Woolf believes that pressures from society hinder writers' works.  In order to produce an income, writers must fabricate literature that is pleasing to their audience.  When it comes down to it, novels and histories are not a necessity.  Once the writer has struggled dealing with society, Woolf feels that, "if anything comes through in spite of all this, it is a miracle, and probably no book is born entire and uncrippled as it was conceived." (54)

My first post in the blogging world!

An interior designer maps out a pleasantly designed vision of a room.  The modest walls plead the designer to cover their n a k e d n e s s with wallpaper and framed art.  The floor prepares itself for the strenuous task of supporting the truckload of furniture that will soon arrive.  Magazines and color samples sprawled out on the floor deliver a glimpse of ideas for prospective rooms.  The ceiling holds her breath and hopes that the designer chooses wisely; for she will be destined to gaze down on the room for years to come.  The room needn't fear; the interior designer's knowledge and experience enables her to place everything where it belongs.  The room transforms into a living space and all are satisfied. 

 

A writer's outcome is much more uNpredIctaBle.  The blank page does not implore the writer to cover its body; it is perfectly content just the way it is.  The writer does not have any insight into how the paper wishes to be dressed.  The blank page is stubborn and will not settle for anything less than perfection.  An interior designer is capable of pleasing all aspects of a room.  It seems that a blank page is never satisfied, no matter how much attention the writer is willing to give.