Killing the Angel in the House: Rebellion of Virginia Woolf

“Thus, whenever I felt the shadow of her wing or the radiance of her halo upon my page, I took up the ink pot and flung it at her. She died hard. Her fictitious nature was of great assistance to her. It is far harder to kill a phantom than a reality. She was always creeping back when I thought I had despatched her”

During the Victorian Era, the ideal of the "Angel in the House" dictated the expectations of women. Created by poet Coventry Patmore, this concept epitomized the idealized woman who embodied virtues such as selflessness, purity, and unquestioning devotion to her family. However, this romanticized vision of femininity became detrimental for women and limited roles to domestic roles and suppressed their individuality.

Virginia Woolf, a pioneering feminist writer, was at the forefront of challenging this very limited and harmful ideal. In her essay "Professions for Women," Woolf famously declared her intention to "kill the Angel in the House." She described this angel as a haunting figure for her artistry, a voice within, preventing her creative inner voice and constraining her intellectual pursuits. For Woolf, this metaphorical angel represented the societal expectations that limited women to the narrow realm of domesticity.

Of course, Woolf's rebellion against the Angel was not just a personal struggle but also a broader call for women to break free from societal norms and stop trying to be innocent and selfless beings. In her infamous work "A Room of One's Own," Woolf argued that women needed financial independence and a space of their own to showcase their creative talents. She also rejected the idea that women should be at home all day long. She believed that women should be asserting their right to participate in the public domain.

The Victorian Angel in the House ideal, while seeming like an innocent figure in a poem, perpetuated gender inequality and prevented women's aspirations. It can be said that Woolf's killing of this angel was a very historical moment in feminist literature since this paved the way for feminist and women artists. With this act of killing, Woolf not only challenged traditional gender roles but urged women to strive for autonomy and self-expression.

When we talk about the Victorian Era and feminism, I think it is crucial to acknowledge the huge impact of Virginia Woolf's work on women. By "Killing the Angel in the House," she paved the way for women to break free from societal norms and left a legacy that continues to inspire today's women and their pursuit of gender equality.