Exploring and Decoding the Complexities of Gender, Identity, and Time in Virginia Woolf's Orlando

Abstract

Orlando by Virginia Woolf is a feminist novel that explores the themes of gender, identity, and time. The novel follows the life of the eponymous protagonist, Orlando, who begins as a young nobleman in the 16th century and transforms into a woman over the course of several centuries. Through this transformation, the novel critiques traditional gender roles and expectations and challenges societal norms that restrict individual freedom and identity. The novel also explores the limitations faced by women in a patriarchal society and how women have historically been excluded from historical narratives. "Orlando" is considered a groundbreaking feminist novel, and is recognized for its imaginative, fluid, and playful approach to the themes of gender, identity, and time.