“Shakespeare’s Sister”: A Different Perspective

“Shakespeare’s Sister” exemplifies critical elements most essays should possess by making a point in a very effective way. In the essay, “Shakespeare’s Sister,” Virginia Woolf creates a fictional story to persuade her readers. The essay creates a story to exemplify women’s roles in the renaissance era. She creates a what-if situation of Shakespeare having a sister. The story demonstrates women’s inequalities during his time, and examples of these situations. “Shakespeare’s Sister” is an effective essay because of customary word choice, use of hypothetical situations, and vivid story telling.

Woolf’s use of sentimental word choice shows the roles women played in Shakespeare’s time. Judith, Woolf’s fictional character, attempts to join the local theatre, but gets an unsatisfying response from the owner of the theatre. The author informs how Judith is regarded, “he bellowed something about poodles dancing and women acting—no women, he said, could possible be an actress” (566). Women in Shakespeare’s time were looked down upon talented or not. Although unfortunate, this is not the last time men disrespected Judith for her gender. In Judith’s demise she is regarded like that of an animal would. Woolf notes that Judith “killed herself one winter’s night and lies buried at some cross-roads where the omnibuses now stop outside the Elephant and Castle” (566). The way Judith’s regarded upon death creates a sense of sympathy. The word choice Woolf displays defines the customs for the time, and helps the reader obtain a deeper understanding.

The author’s creation of a hypothetical situation tells that women did not have the same opportunities. The hypothetical situation in Woolf’s essay demonstrates the everyday lifestyle of the time flawles...

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...achment between the reader, and the character causing the reader to take the Woolf side.

“Shakespeare’s Sister’s” effective word choice, hypothetical situations, and use of sympathy, were key points in the succession of the essay. The word choice Woolf uses helped define the society on a daily basis. Hypothetical situations throughout the story helped show how women were denied equality during the time. The author using sympathy effectively made the reader grow attached to Judith, and have a sense of wanting equality for her. “Shakespeare’s Sister” utilizes key elements needed for a persuasive paper thus promoting its effectiveness.

Work Cited

Woolf, Virginia. “Shakespeare’s Sister.” Literature and Society: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Nonfiction. Eds. Pamela J. Annas and Robert C. Rosen. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2007. 565-567. Print