Sussex

Charleston House

By Vince Co

This picture of the statue of Virginia Woolf in the Charleston House, Sussex stood out to me because I also remember the garden that the statue is in back in London. The Virginia Woolf statue in London is also surrounded by nature similar to the way that this statue is surrounded by the naturalistic characteristics of Monk’s house. It reminded me of the natural aspects in Sussex and how Virgnia used her surroundings as inspiration for her nostalgia of the countryside in Three Guineas: "And the way to the river is by field-paths only. And the whole world is round the corner; within a mile from this high gate, five minutes from this ivory tower, lies the green land of centuries, the country that our ancestors knew." (page 29). She contrasts the beauty and simplicity of the countryside with the complexities of urban life, suggesting that the natural world holds the key to a better and more peaceful society. This quote emphasizes the importance of connecting with nature and preserving the natural world, themes that are also present in Woolf's other works, including Mrs. Dalloway. Woolf’s style of a stream-of-consciousness narration is influenced by her experiences while living in Sussex. This quote reminds me of Woolf’s longing to come back to the countryside.. Overall, this passage is a powerful example of Woolf's use of language and imagery to convey complex ideas about society, culture, and the natural world.



Woolf, Virginia. Three Guineas. Edited by Mark Hussey, First ed., Harcourt, 2006.