Orlando
Orlando, by Virginia Woolf, is a novel that makes many claims dealing with complicated
issues. In this novel, Woolf presents the reader with many things to think about. Some of the
more apparent concerns that Woolf portrays in Orlando deal with issues of gender, socioeconomic status, outside appearances, and the various roles of oneself related to how they affect
identity.
Orlando is a novel that can be seen as very complex. Although the style is fairly easy to
understand, the events that occur and how they relate to each other can be intricate. The novel
begins with the introduction of Orlando, a boy who is sixteen and gorgeous, but described with
many feminine qualities. He lives his life similar to any noble man; he is in acquaintance with
the Queen, looks for ladies to marry, and has a grand connection to nature from the very
beginning. At some points, he dresses in casual clothes with the intention to explore the life of
commoners. Later, “The Great Frost” comes to London and freezes everything over, leaving
Orlando the opportunity to meet Sasha, a Russian whose ship is stuck in the ice. When he first
notices Sasha, he cannot distinguish whether she is male or female until he sees her up close. He
immediately falls in love with her and wishes to run away with her, but she stands him up. The
chapter ends with the ice melting as Orlando sees the Russian ship sail away in the melted
water1.
From the very first chapter, Woolf sets up the issues she is going to continue to explore
throughout the novel. First, she uses feminine detail in the first description of Orlando, who is a
noble man and would normally be described with manly, macho features. This portrayal is the
first indication to the reader that topics of gender are a central point in her novel. Also dealing
with gender is the character of Sasha, whom Orlando has difficulty in determining whether she is
man or woman.
Another issue that is presented in the first chapter is the role of people based on socioeconomic status. The exploration of the commoner’s life by Orlando immediately creates a
claim that life is vastly different based on the money one makes. This issue, as with the rest is
another that is investigated by Woolf throughout the remaining chapters of the novel.
In addition, Woolf also incorporates many symbols in her writing that is seen in this first
chapter. “The Great Frost”, a period of extreme chaos amongst the city, is representative of
Orlando’s life at that moment. He is not exactly sure of his life at that moment and is confused
by the rejection of Sasha2.
In chapter two, Orlando finds himself in a state of depression and solitude. In this state,
he takes up writing and works on his poem titled “The Oak Tree”. Orlando gets through this
period with the preoccupations of reading and writing. He decides he wants to show his writing
to his friend, Greene, but he becomes frustrated. After burning most of what he wrote, Orlando
reflects on nature and promises to never write for judges, but only for himself. At the end of the
chapter, Orlando notices Harriet, an archduchess, and becomes infatuated with her. However, he
is sent to Constantinople to be an Ambassador Extraordinary, which is his own desire because of
the shame he feels over his infatuation, not love, for Harriet3.
This chapter is important because it demonstrates the importance of literature in one’s
life. Through Orlando’s love of writing and reading, Woolf is making the claim that literature is
an essential part of life. Much can be learned about the self through both reading and writing,
such as what happens with Orlando. “The Oak Tree” is the poem that Orlando carries with him
throughout his life and he continuously adds and updates it. This poem, as seen in the end of the
book, defines Orlando’s life and he learns much about himself and his progression of life while
writing it. It is also important to note that Orlando decides to write only for himself. Woolf is
arguing that literature is necessary in life even if critics do not like it. The only thing that matters
is that it is satisfies the writer.
Chapter three is one of the most significant chapters in the whole book. In
Constantinople, Orlando greatly fulfills his responsibilities as an Ambassador Extraordinary and
later receives his Dukedom. Although he is busy with the duties of an Ambassador, Orlando still
manages to make time to go to the mountains and work on his poems. After granted his
Dukedom, he throws a grand party in which Orlando decided to marry a peasant by the name of
Rosina Pepita at the end of the night. However, Orlando does not wake up the morning after the
party but is in a trance. During his trance, the Lady of Chastity, the Lady of Purity and the Lady
of Modesty visit him. At the end of their visit, they proclaim, “This is no place for us here”
(Woolf Ch. 3). They realized that Orlando does not need them, but he needs “Truth”. Orlando
finally wakes when the trumpeters scream “THE TRUTH” (Woolf Ch. 3). However, he wakes
up in a different state for he is now a woman. Orlando is entirely the same person, just a woman
instead of a man. Shortly after her transformation, Orlando goes to live with the gypsies on their
grounds outside of Broussa. She quickly begins to see that she is much different from the
gypsies, who think she is in love with nature. For example, Orlando thinks, “Four hundred and
seventy-six bedrooms mean nothing to them” (Woolf Ch. 3). The gypsies do not think it is
important that Orlando has that big of a house. After noticing these differences, she decides to
return back to England and not stay with them4.
This chapter contains many fundamental ideas and issues. First, the transformation of
Orlando from a man to a woman makes a very strong claim that one is not made up of their
sexual identity. Woolf writes that Orlando was exactly the same person, just a different sex. The
personality, characteristics, strengths, etcetera, did not change at all when he changed to a she.
This is suggesting that sex has nothing to do with identity. Who a person is does not matter on
what sex they are. However, later in the book, it becomes prevalent that gender does hold a big
part to one’s identity, while their sex does not.
Another argument seen in chapter three is the socio-economic differences between the
gypsies and Orlando. Growing up as a nobleman, Orlando learned that wealth (big houses, nice
clothes) mattered in life, which is opposite to the view of the gypsies who live on camp grounds.
This fact is making that claim that money is important in life in determining what one values. If
one is wealthy, they learn to value material things such as big houses and fine clothes, such as
Orlando. On the contrary, if one does not have much money, they learn to find value in other
things, such as the gypsies.
Chapter four begins with Orlando sailing back home to England. On the ship, she begins
to notice how people are treating her differently as a woman than as a man. For example, the
Capitan of the ship offers to cut her meat for her (Woolf Ch. 4). When she returns home, she
sees the Archduchess Harriet and invites her in, only to realize that she is a man, Archduke
Harry. Harry explains that he was so in love with Orlando that he pretended to be a woman
when Orlando was a man. Now that Orlando is a woman, Harry reveals that he is a man and
wishes to marry her, although she does not want to marry him. Throughout the chapter, Orlando
gathers with the poets and talks with them. At the end of the chapter, she decides to start
switching clothes based on what feels appropriate. Woolf writes that “the pleasures of life were
increased and its experiences multiplied” (Woolf Ch. 4). Orlando is able to live life as either sex,
according to what she wears5.
This chapter explores the idea that gender is socially constructed, not biologically, and
that there are different roles that society expects from each gender. For example, the Capitan
sees Orlando as a woman and begins treating her in a way other than if she were a man. Woolf is
making the claim that society forces roles on an individual based on their gender. Orlando as a
man is instructed by society to act a certain way, while acting another way as a woman. It is
very evident that sex and gender are two separate ideas. Sex does not determine how one acts,
gender does, which is constructed through society.
The beginning of chapter five starts out with the description of a giant, black that covers
London. During this dark time, Orlando works on “The Oak Tree” poem and mediates on it.
She realizes that her poem has changed as her life has. She carried this poem all through her life
and she can see the changes in herself in it. Later, she decides that she needs a husband and
begins the search for one. On this search, she trails some feathers and twists her ankle while
doing it. However, she is very content because she thinks that she is supposed to be married to
nature. Just then, Marmaduke Bonthrop Shelmerdine, Esquire comes up on a horse and they
immediately feel a connection and become engaged. The connection is so strong between them
that they know everything about each other without saying it. Also, Orlando feels that Shel is a
woman, while Shel thinks that Orlando is a man. Shortly after their marriage, Shel has to once
again return to the sea to sail6.
This chapter again reflects on the societal roles that are demanding on its citizens. The
fact that Orlando feels the need to find a husband clearly represents this. At a certain time in a
woman’s life, she is expected to find a husband, settle down and have children. While looking at
the world around here, Orlando sees nothing but couples and feels the pressure that society puts
on her to find a husband, which leads to her to the search for one. Shel is an interesting
candidate for her husband because he is just like Orlando. They both appear to be one sex and
gender, but the other sees and feels them as something else. They recognize that there is
something more to them than just male or female. These labels do not matter for Orlando and
Shel. The only thing that matters is that they connect and understand each other, no matter if
they are male or female. Another important component to this chapter is the Orlando’s reflection
on “The Oak Tree”. This poem is beginning to define and explain her life. It is a record of all
the changes that she has undergone. It is so important for her because it documents her life for
her. This poem acts as a journal for Orlando in which she can look back on past times and
remember who she used to be, who she is now and who she is becoming.
The last chapter begins with the culmination of “The Oak Tree”. She takes her poem to
Greene, who reads it and adores it and advises her to get it published. After her return, she has a
son. Later, Orlando sees a brilliant light and is hit on the head ten times at ten in the morning.
She becomes scared and drives to the store, where she thinks she sees Sasha, but she only smells
something that reminders her of Sasha. When she returns home, there is an explosion at four.
After, she goes out to the oak tree in the garden and lays sets her book on poetry beneath the tree.
At the end of the chapter, Orlando feels that Shel is going to be coming home soon as the clock
strikes midnight7.
The end of the book reveals many things to the reader. First, the conclusion of “The Oak
Tree” correlates with the self-identification of Orlando. Throughout her entire life, she writes
that poem and tried to develop a sense of self. It contains all of her ideas and changes of self.
When she finishes it, she finally comes to the conclusion of who she is. Another important
factor of this chapter is the image of Sasha. At this moment, Orlando understands how life is
connected. Past, present and future are all connected in one’s life. Sasha, a figure of the past,
still remains in Orlando’s present life, although not in form. Only the idea of her is there;
however, it is still a part of Orlando and her life. The end of this book notes the importance of
living for oneself and not trying to please society. Orlando realizes this at the end and is happy
that she can finally live how she wants without society pressuring her into certain roles.
In addition, nature is a constant figure in this novel. Orlando is always exploring nature
and writing poetry in the presence of nature. Nature is something that is pure in its form. It is
not decorated, covered up, nor have any roles that it needs to maintain. Also, it is constantly
changing from season to season. In those terms, nature and Orlando have a direct relationship.
This novel is making the claim that humans and society should be like nature. Instead of
focusing on what one wears or what role they should have in society, the focus should be on who
the person is underneath all that stuff. People should be concerned with their purest form instead
of their gender roles in society. Orlando recognizes this at the end and decides to live for herself
and write for herself.
The idea that nature changes seasons is also reflected in Orlando. She has changed many
times throughout her life, but those changes make up who she is at the end. The combination of
all of her “selves” defines her. In the same way, nature changes seasons year to year, however it
is still nature. All of the different “selves” that Orlando goes through throughout the novel are
connected and they create who she is at the end. All of those connections make up her identity.
Orlando, by Virginia Woolf, is a very complex novel. It deals with many issues of self,
society and nature. There are many claims that Woolf is making throughout this novel. It is
surely a book worth reading and exploring. It is not only an interesting story, but it also makes
one think about themselves and the roles they fulfill in the society in which they live.
1. Woolf, Virginia. Orlando A
Cataloging, 1928. Ch. 1.
2. Woolf, Virginia. Orlando A
Cataloging, 1928. Ch. 1.
3. Woolf, Virginia. Orlando A
Cataloging, 1928. Ch. 2.
4. Woolf, Virginia. Orlando A
Cataloging, 1928. Ch. 3.
5. Woolf, Virginia. Orlando A
Cataloging, 1928. Ch. 4.
6. Woolf, Virginia. Orlando A
Cataloging, 1928. Ch. 5.
7. Woolf, Virginia. Orlando A
Cataloging, 1928. Ch. 6.
Biography.
Print.
Biography.
Print.
Biography.
Print.
Biography.
Print.
Biography.
Print.
Biography.
Print.
Biography.
Print.
Libert y of Congress
Libert y of Congress
Libert y of Congress
Libert y of Congress
Libert y of Congress
Libert y of Congress
Libert y of Congress
Works Cited
Thomas, Steve. "Orlando, by Virginia Woolf." Orlando by Virginia Woolf TO V.
SACKVILLE-WEST. eBooks@Adelaide: The Universit y of Adelaide
Library , 12 Jan 2011. Web. 23 Apr 2011. <http://ebooks.adelaide.
edu.au/w/woolf/virginia/w91o/index.html>.