Virginia Woolf´s 'The Waves'

Analysis and interpretation of the motif of the waves and of nature´s role in the early lives of the characters and of the role of their friendship at Percival´s Goodbye Dinner

Term Paper (Advanced seminar) , 2007 , 21 Pages , Grade: 2

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

Originally, what later became The Waves was called The Moths. Virginia Woolf began writing it on July 2nd 1929 . It underwent drastic changes during the writing and revising processes, that lasted until the year 1931, when it was eventually published by The Hogarth Press- the Woolf´s own publishing house. The Waves certainly and rightfully is regarded as Virginia Woolf´s most abstract and experimental, therefore least accessible novel. The ‘story’ is told through ‘dramatic soliloquies’ spoken by the six characters Rhoda, Jinny, Bernard, Susan, Neville and Louis. There is no real, direct interaction and talks between these characters, but they mean a lot to each other and bond from their common childhood onwards. A seventh character, Percival, is introduced to the reader by the monologues of the six, he never speaks for himself ,though. The whole plot is enclosed in a scene, that can be found daily all around the world: a sunrise over the ocean and the nearby beach, as well as a garden/nature scenery. Each of these interposed chapters symbolizes a stage of life the protagonists are now at and the developments they face.
The main questions I will ask and set out to answer are what the theme of waves and water are supposed to symbolize and what role nature ,ubiquitous in this novel, plays and signifies for the respective characters during their childhood. These questions appear to be central for the understanding of this piece of writing, as they do not occur in any of Woolfe´s other works I have read so far.I will also try to analyze the importance of the friends the characters have made and their feelings during the farewell dinner for Percival.
Firstly, I will give a general overview about the way the novel is conceived. Secondly, I will present the main characters and their general characteristics and then give the plot of the novel.
After that, I will examine the role of the waves and the beach scenery in the novel and what nature means to the individual characters and their lives.
Eventually, the focus will lie on what the reunion on the occasion of Percival´s imminent departure , set years after their last encounter, means to the characters and whether time and distance have alienated them from each other and nature.
I will achieve these goals by the technique of ‘close reading’, ie. the approach to this study will mainly be text-based and contrastive.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• Introduction
• General Overview of "The Waves"
• Narrative technique
• Characters
• Plot
• Waves and the sea as a motif in The Waves
• Nature and its importance for the individual characters during their childhood
• Group cohesion as portrayed at Percival´s farewell dinner
• Conclusion
• Bibliography

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte

This paper aims to analyze Virginia Woolf's novel "The Waves" by examining the motif of the waves and nature's role in the early lives of the characters, as well as the role of their friendship at Percival's farewell dinner. The paper will explore the symbolic significance of the waves and the sea, the importance of nature for the individual characters, and the dynamics of their relationships at the dinner.

• The symbolic significance of the waves and the sea
• The role of nature in the characters' childhoods
• The dynamics of the characters' friendship at Percival's farewell dinner
• The impact of time and distance on the characters' relationships
• The novel's experimental narrative technique

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel

The introduction provides a brief overview of the novel's genesis and its status as one of Woolf's most experimental works. It introduces the six main characters, their relationships, and the novel's unique narrative structure. The chapter also outlines the main questions that the paper will address, focusing on the symbolism of the waves and nature's role in the characters' lives.

The chapter "General Overview of "The Waves"" delves into the novel's narrative technique, exploring the interplay between the omniscient narrator and the characters' stream-of-consciousness monologues. It examines the structure of the interludes and the characters' "silent soliloquies," highlighting the patterns and logic behind their appearances and the significance of their relationships.

The chapter "Waves and the sea as a motif in The Waves" analyzes the symbolic significance of the waves and the sea in the novel. It explores how these elements represent the characters' inner lives, their emotions, and their experiences of time and change.

The chapter "Nature and its importance for the individual characters during their childhood" examines the role of nature in shaping the characters' personalities and their understanding of the world. It explores how nature provides a sense of solace, inspiration, and connection for the characters, but also how it can be a source of fear and uncertainty.

The chapter "Group cohesion as portrayed at Percival´s farewell dinner" analyzes the dynamics of the characters' relationships at Percival's farewell dinner. It explores how time and distance have affected their bonds, and how their interactions reveal their individual struggles and the complexities of their shared history.

Schlüsselwörter

The keywords and focus themes of the text include Virginia Woolf, The Waves, waves, sea, nature, childhood, friendship, Percival, farewell dinner, narrative technique, stream of consciousness, symbolism, character development, relationships, time, distance, and change.

• College: University of Bamberg (Lehrstuhl für Englische Literaturwissenschaft)
• Course: Virginia Woolf
• Grade: 2
• Author: Robert Kerlin (Author)
• Publication Year: 2007
• Pages: 21
• Catalog Number: V140820
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640502967
• ISBN (Book): 9783640503278
• Language: English
• Tags: Virginia, Woolf´s, Waves, Analysis, Percival´s, Goodbye, Dinner