Chapter 3
Virginia Woolf
When Virginia Woolf speaks of the extraordinary woman depending on the ordinary, she is challenging the notion of individual genius untouched by its environment. Shakespeare's hypothetical sister, Judith, whose talent was stifled by societal norms, represents the countless women whose potential was unrealized due to the constraints of their era. Woolf's essay underscores the systemic barriers that shaped women's opportunities, making clear that artistic achievements are as much a product of one's environment as of individual capability.