In Virginia Woolf’s “Death of a Moth”, she tells about the time she witnessed a moth die. The moth was trapped inside her room, and was only able to see the outside world. The moth tried all it could do to escape the room, and prevail from the pain of not being able to carry on. When the moth realized there was no escape, it gave up, and laid there to die. What in the world would inspire Woolf to recollect a memory so boring and dark? Maybe she believed the moth symbolized her, and her depression was the “window” that prevented her from enjoying the beauty of the outside world. Woolf knew what it was like to fly back and forth, back and forth, back and forth on a window just to discover that there was no exit, and she would later know the feeling of giving up, just like the moth did. As a reader, this makes me think of all the “windows” that we all face in our life. Some examples are depression, sickness, family, income, and education. As a writer, it makes me appreciate moments like these even more. Woolf could have just witnessed this moth die and think nothing of it, but she didn’t. She knew, just like I do, that life is an uphill climb, and sometimes we do let life get the best of us.
Dustan Pate
I agree with Dustin about how Woolf is trying to express herself as the moth. Also, a great comparrison with the "windows," it really makes you stop and think about your own life and your struggles. But in the end, you know everything will be fine if you just work hard and do your best.
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ReplyDeleteDustan and Caroline, I LOVE your comments about the windows. GREAT POINT. We all face them, but all respond to the differently. In a strange way, when this story is read within a class, we can encourage one another we're not alone in facing our "windows." Woolf's story is a sad one, but what a great point you make about human nature. Thanks for sharing! -teachy teach
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