Ok, so today in AP Lang, we were discussing Virginia Woolf’s essay “The Death of a Moth”. My teacher said that Woolf was metaphorically saying that humans live sad, dreary, and pathetic lives. Woolf’s theory said that we made ourselves seem more important than we actually are, we make ourselves think we actually serve some sort of purpose in life when we don’t, in actuality, we’re flying around a four point window. My teacher simplified it for us in one scenario. Think of a style (in your generation) that is long out of style. My class chose the Ed Hardy style. Now, imagine this: you’re sitting in class with everyone else, then someone strolls in wearing all Ed Hardy clothing, accessories, basically just decked out in Hardy gear. Not only do they look absolutely ridiculous, but they walk in thinking they look cool, thinking they’re better than everyone else in the room, and totally impervious to the fact that nobody else regards them in the same manner. So not only do you look pathetic, but you’re unaware that you look pathetic, and that just upgrades it to a whole new level of pathetic.
Naturally being the nerd that I am, I got home and reflected on this idea. I didn’t do it on purpose, and I didn’t realize this then but this idea really bothers me because as much as I want to strike it down and deny our uselessness, I see some truth in her theory. Moms. Short, plain, and simple. I’m about to describe the typical mom’s day. Wake up then get the kids ready for school then get ready for work then work for seven or eight hours then take the kids to whatever afterschool activities they may have then get home then make dinner for the kids then make sure their homework is done and that they’ve showered then put them to bed then go to sleep then wake then get the kids ready for school… It’s one big cycle. This is the same four point window Woolf describes in her essay.
But wait a minute is that to say that we don’t have a purpose in life? I like to believe that as I’m growing up, I’m going in the general direction I choose to serve some sort of benefit to society. Whatever I decide to do, be a police officer, work for the government, be a lawyer, etc., I’d like to think that it’s not all for nothing. What Woolf says is correct, we all live and we all die. That’s all we do, we waste time here on earth, die, and that’s the end of it.
I refuse to believe that’s it. The process is true, but I believe we all serve some sort of purpose here on earth. We all do something to benefit society. It may not always be apart, and I don’t know if it’s my inner optimist, and I respect Woolf’s essay and her theory but I don’t have to accept it. No matter what we do, we all hold a piece to the puzzle of society. Homeless people for example, people abuse them and look down on them, but who knows what some of them have been through? Some of them are war veterans who come home to nothing and some of them have disabilities that prevent them from having a “respectable” job. What role do they serve in society? It’s just a stupid homeless good-for-nothing living on a street corner. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Some people might take offense to this next comment or feel that it’s mean or whatever they want to call it, but those people obviously don’t understand my point, and I say this with the most respect possible. Homeless people show us what and where we don’t want to be. What kind of role is that? A good one–who’s hasn’t looked at a homeless person while driving in their car and thinking, “I don’t want to be in that position, it’s so pathetic and gross.” It makes us study harder, work stronger, and do whatever we can not to be in that position. I’d say that’s a pretty decent role in helping society.
Anyways, my main point is that I don’t think Virginia Woolf’s ideas presented in “The Death of a Moth” are true. While they hold some truths, she pushes them forward with pessimism and then the idea turns into a sad reason of why we should just not care about life. Like I said before, I refuse to take and accept that. But that’s just me, the nerdy girl who goes home to think about what she learned in school. Well I’m out for the night, if you’ve read everything up to this point, thank you (: I know this must be boring your brains out but I just needed an outlet lol. Goodnight!
Sincerely Yours,
Soldiergrl
