AUSTEN VERSUS WOOLF: MODERNIST FIGHTS TRADITIONALIST

The idea of a new “Modern life” is eternal. From one generation to the next humanity suffers from a constant inundation of complex changes brought on by scientific technology, mechanization, and social changes. In the early twentieth century, these uncertainties provoked writers to develop new styles of writing to respond to the changing world. In Between Acts, Virginia Woolf writes, “Surely, it was time someone invented a new plot, or that the author came out from the bushes” (Bartlett 651). Modernist writers believed the traditional narrative techniques could not contain the new and contradictory feelings humankind now suffered; nevertheless, traditional narratives by Jane Austen continued to carry weight. Austen writes in Northanger Abbey, “Only [in] a novel . . . the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humor are conveyed to the world” (Bartlett 386). In the narrative tradition Austen follows developing stories have four distinct plot elements. The exposition provides and moves the information for readers to understand the story, the complication or the catalyst of the story motivates action, the climax, which is the moment in the story when characters resolve the complication, and finally, a resolution to tie up loose ends and end the story. Virginia Woolf began changing the old forms for plot, setting, and character to reflect a new and unsettling world; however, the narrative techniques used by Virginia Woolf in Orlando may not be superior to the traditional writing styles seen in Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice.

In the narrative tradition, setting is typically a time and place; however, the setting can also be natural, social or internal. In Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice, the setting reflects a bucolic ideal. Set near the cozy neighborhood of Meryton, the Bennet family acquaintances and activities reflect those of most early nineteenth century readers, “A walk to Meryton was necessary to amuse their morning hours and furnish conversation for the evening” (Austen 28). Austen draws from personal experience to develop her ideal community, which serves as the exposition phase of her plot. In contrast, the setting in Orlando A Biography by Virginia Woolf moves across continents and centuries. Writing in the early twentieth century, Wool’s setting reflects the speed of modern travel. Modern society’s new technologies offer boundless opportunities, when Woolf employs the changes in her setting the narrative does not provide clues that an exposition phase would provide in the plot development.

Eighteenth century readers relied on a steady progression of events, and Austen writes for readers, like herself and her family, who want entertainment for an evening by the fireside. Therefore, her narratives use the four plot elements, exposition, complication, climax, and resolution. Throughout the narrative, the main character, Elizabeth Bennet relates her impressions of other characters. The major story complication is her impression of Mr. Darcy as too proud. As the narrative progress, the character corrects his prideful behavior. Austen uses a chronological structure of events to clarify plot development. In contrast, Woolf’s main character, Orlando, seems almost untouched by the myriad changes she encounters from youthful poet and lover to sword welding ambassador. The character’s gender transformation, while both startling and humorous for the reader, should signify the climax of the plot; however, Orlando’s nonchalant reaction, “The change seemed to have been accomplished painlessly and completely and in such a way that Orlando herself showed no surprise at it” (Woolf 139). Woolf’s new literary style allows Orlando’s transformation to become a simple character exposition. Character development is perhaps the most startling change in modern narrative style.

In Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet always knew exactly what behavior society expected of her and what behavior she in return could expect from her neighbors. Modernism changed social and behavioral expectations. In Woolf’s Orlando A Biography, Orlando appears multidimensional and dynamic in her acceptance of her new gender, yet her behavior seems flat. Woolf’s character changes explore the social and gender role changes women were experiencing at the turn of the twentieth century. Old established guidelines of behavior, leftover from the Victorian area, were quickly swept away by new and more complex systems.

Woolf changed the old forms of plot, setting, and character to reflect a new and unsettling world that her contemporaries faced. Woolf’s fictional biography of a gender changing protagonist moving across continents and centuries as well as cultural divides certainly provides “the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humor are conveyed to the world” (Bartlett 386). However, without the readers’ participation, and knowledge of the boundaries being broken and flaunted, the reader is as Jessica Berman writes in Ethical Folds: Ethics, Aesthetics, Woolf, “brought into an intimate encounter with the multi-sexed being that is Orlando, then we are also forced to acknowledge the demands that this being-together makes upon us.” While modern narratives, such as Woolf’s exploration of external issues, rightly make demands upon the reader to think about the stresses that our changing society brings there still remains room for humor, as seen in Austen’s story of internal motivates versus external behavior.

Works Cited
Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992.
Bartlett, John. Familiar Quotations. Ed. Justin Kaplan. 16th ed. Boston: Little, 1992.
Literature Online. Berman, Jessica: Ethical Folds: Ethics, Aesthetics, Woolf. Modern Fiction Studies (Dept of English, Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN) (Baltimore, MD) (50:1) [Spring 2004] , p.151-172. < http://0-lion.chadwyck.com.library.lib.asu.edu/>
Woolf , Virginia. Orlando A Biography. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich; Harvest Books, 1973.

Julie Anne Phillipps

Writing Portfolio

AUSTEN VERSUS WOOLF: MODERNIST FIGHTS TRADITIONALIST