Exploring the World of Men

“A Society” by Virginia Woolf 

          In “A Society” by Virginia Woolf, a group of women decides to create a society in which women try to enter the world of men. One of their reasons for doing this is, “"Why if men write such rubbish as this, should our mothers have wasted their youth in bringing them into the world?"” Woolf intended for this story to be a satire; she uses a lofty, silly rhetoric to make fun of what most people think women talk like while weaving in humor with a serious question: if literature can actually be appreciated by most audiences. Since this story is a satire, all of these universal topics are open to interpretation. For example, it does raise other similar questions such as, “How much of our young lives are we willing to use for a different cause?” or “Are our lives intended to help other people?” This short story is relevant to young readers because of the universal personalities of the characters, current theme of feminism, and the humorous rhetoric used by Woolf. 

          The characters are also very relatable to the modern audience. Most of the main characters are young, unmarried women but their personalities are universal. Poll, is the likely old maid of the group. She is described as “not a beauty” and “quite queer”. In the teenage world of cliques, there are always outsiders. Castalia, is the first girl to break the promise the girls make to each other: to not have a baby until the society reaches their final conclusion about men. Once again, in every clique there is always going to be one rule breaker. Clorinda is the leader of the group. She was the first to suggest the idea of the society as well as the promise they all make to each other. Every clique of teenagers has these three personality types: the rebel, the odd one out and the boss. Since the personalities of all the characters are so broad, it is easy for a youthful audience to be able to see these people in their everyday lives. Through the comprehensive characters, Woolf has managed to link her story with the lives of a contemporary audience. 

          Many people may argue that this is a feminist short story, especially since it was set in 1914. Although the feminist arguments are outdated I think the theme of feminism as well as seeking out the truth are still general themes for young adult readers. These women are very independent of their men. They try to figure things out for themselves, something college students are greatly encouraged to do in class. Secretly integrating into man’s society, the women try to find out whether it is a productive use to the world to bear “as many children as they should” as they were taught to by their previous generation of women. This theme of feminism is also another notion that many college students are still fighting for: equal pay, equal number of men and women in certain jobs etc. While reading this story, the audience can connect these themes with things they see in the newspaper or their everyday lives. 

          A lot of the jokes in this short story are still topical, especially for college students. Woolf spares no one in this short story and makes fun of anything she can. She made fun of poetry by calling it “verbose, sentimental foolery”. She also pokes at trials that are so boring that one of the women fell asleep during it while she was supposed to take notes. Woolf also makes fun at the foolishness of all the women especially when Poll exasperated at her father’s request to read an entire library exclaims, “Why, why did my father teach me how to read?” The foolishness of the characters can be so unreliable that it is humorous. Through the rhetoric, characters, themes and jokes, Woolf is able to connect with the modern young reader and succeeds in this witty, modern short story.