Accepted Quote by Virginia Woolf
“We read Charlotte Bronte not for exquisite observation of character - her characters are vigorous and elementary; not for comedy - hers is grim and crude; not for a philosophic view of life - hers is that of a country parson's daughter; but for her poetry. Probably that is so with all writers who have, as she has, an overpowering personality, so that, as we say in real life, they have only to open the door to make themselves felt.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: A Room of One's Own, 1929
Woolf argues that Brontë’s powerful personality, not her technical skill, makes her work compelling, urging readers to feel her presence.
In simple terms: Brontë’s forceful personality drives her writing, not just technique.
Key Takeaway
Appreciate the author’s unique voice.
Themes
literature
personality
poetry
character
observation
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
critical
literary
When to use this quote
- book club discussions
- creative writing workshops
- literary analysis
- teaching Victorian novels
Key Concepts
authorial presence
psychology of reading
Questions to Reflect On
- How does an author's personality shape your reading experience?
- Can you separate a work’s merit from its creator’s persona?
A Different Perspective
Woolf’s view may overlook Brontë’s literary craft.
![“[Charlotte Bronte] had thought of every maneuver for circumventing those stony obstructions of wives who would not remove themselves.” quote by Elizabeth Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f48/elizabeth-hardwick-10519_every-man_charlotte-bronte-had-thought-of-every-ma_1381449.jpg)
![“I would say it was [ifluence] all the Greeks and the Russian classics like [Lev] Tolstoy, [Andrey] Goncharov,[Fedor] Dostoyevsky, [Alexander] Pushkin, and the international classics in Russian translation like Victor Hugo, George Sand, Charlotte Bronte, Sir Walter Scott, Mark Twain.” quote by Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/002/vera-nazarian-1671_bronte_i-would-say-it-was-ifluence-all-the-gree_2921445.jpg)
![“We have reached a situation where a theory has been accepted as fact by some, and possible contrary evidence is shunted aside. [This is] mythology rather than science.” quote by Robert Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c31/robert-shapiro-26969_accepted_we-have-reached-a-situation-where-a-theo_19120.jpg)
