Selected Stories of Virginia Woolf | "An Unwritten Novel" | Summary

Summary

The narrator of "An Unwritten Novel" begins by describing the unhappy expression of a woman sitting on a train. A few other people are briefly described, but the narrator focuses on the sad and unfortunate look on that woman. The narrator talks to the depressed woman for a few moments about the newspaper. The woman seems forlorn and according to the narrator, "her twitch alone denied all hope, discounted all illusion." The woman begins speaking about life, train stations, holidays, and family. When she gets to the point where she expresses her indignation for her sister-in-law, she "made the awkward angular movement that I had seen before, as if, after the spasm, some spot between the shoulders burnt or itched." The woman is very upset by her sister-in-law, and "her lips pursed as if it spit venom at the word; pursed they remained." The narrator begins to feel the same way, and it is an uncomfortable situation for both women.

The narrator begins to wonder who that sister-in-law is and why she is so foul to the woman. The narrator gives her a fictitious name of Hilda Marsh and begins to think about the woman and their unsavory relationship. Hilda is overbearing, bossy, and mouthy. Minnie Marsh is the name the narrator gives the woman who sits opposite her on the train. Minnie is bossed around by Hilda and made fun of as they sit at a luncheon in a home in Eastbourne. The narrator delves deep into the fictitious backstory of the women as she wonders who both are and how they interact. Minnie sits on a basket by her meager bed in the basement of the Eastbourne home, and she methodically unpacks. The narrator relates, "Yes, sitting on the very edge of the chair looking over the roofs of Easbourne, Minnie Marsh prays to God." The question arises as to who the God is that Minnie Marsh prays to, and what that God looks like. The narrator sees "him on a chair, in a black frock-coat, not so very high up either; I can manage a cloud or two for him to sit on; and then his hand trailing in the cloud holds a rod." It seems to the narrator that Minnie must have committed some crime, and the thoughts begin to suggest possible crimes. The narrator wonders if she broke vows, there was a parting in a relationship, or she nursed her mother. They want to know who kept Minnie's secrets and if she came home too late and her baby brother died. The narrator suggests," Ah, but the detail matters nothing! It's what she carries with her; the spot, the crime, the thing to expiate, always there between her shoulders."

The narrator suggests that the crime is not the issue, but the retribution is solemn, and that is Minnie's conviction. That is what makes Minnie look sad and broken. The narrator goes back to her thoughts about Hilda and how much Minnie must hate her. The thoughts of Minnie's fictitious life flit back and forth about various moments of unhappy times with Hilda and her family, breakfast, fishing with the children, music, shopping, and other events that are heartbreaking. The narrator relates, "tethered to the shores of the world, none of the crimes, sorrows, rhapsodies, or insanities for poor Minnie Marsh; never late for luncheon." Minnie is a good woman who must have lived a very depressing life.

As the narrator wonders whether Minnie's story is accurate, there are more fleeting thoughts by the narrator of moments when Minnie's unhappiness is viewed. The narrator wonders where Minnie went, what she did, and how she lived her life. The narrator has to reveal these moments "if the story's to go on gathering richness and rotundity, destiny and tragedy, as stories should." The thought of a man named James Moggridge comes to mind and how he stays and dines with the Marshes while he is traveling. The narrator describes James with "his red face, his little steady eyes—by no means altogether commonplace—his enormous appetite." The narrator suggests possible scenarios of James's personal life, his family, what he does, how he lives, and what he enjoys. The narrator wonders if James could be the reason Minnie twitches. The narrator suggests, "there must be a Moggridge—life's fault. Life imposes her laws; life blocks the way." James is tough and strong. He is the sadness in Minnie's eyes, and as James leaves, Minnie becomes more heartbroken. The narrator suggests that James must have died, and his death has left Minnie tortured. The narrator relates, "it's the spirit wailing its destiny" and the "shrunken shreds of all the vanishing universe—love, life, faith, husband, children, I know not what splendours and pageantries glimpsed in girlhood." Minnie must have the courage to still hold her head up after such a wretched life the narrator suggests.

The thoughts are interrupted by the stopping of the train. Minnie gets off to meet her son, but the narrator continues wondering about the woman. The narrator wonders if the young man she joins is her son and if she should run off with that young man. The narrator questions where they are going and relates, "oh, how it whirls and surges—floats me afresh!" As the narrator follows Minnie and her son down the street, they wonder about the two and notice the world and movements of society on the streets.

Analysis

Virginia Woolf uses the stream-of-consciousness style of writing for "An Unwritten Novel" which describes fictitious events that happen in the life of a woman on a train. The narrator of "An Unwritten Novel" wonders about the sad and despondent woman she names Minnie Marsh and how torturous her life must have been for her to be so heartbroken. The narrator rushes through the possible scenarios that would create such an unhappy person. There are possible people and events that could have created the outcome of the woman before the narrator who expresses hatred toward Minnie's sister-in-law.

As the narrator describes events and moments that could have taken place, there is a realization within the narrator of their beliefs. Virginia Woolf was known for not believing in religion. She considered herself to be an atheist, and she rejected traditional Christian views of God. It is interesting that Minnie Marsh is shown praying. The narrator suggests that they do not understand or accept the God Minnie prays to or what that God must be like. Woolf uses some of her personal biases and hang-ups throughout the story of Minnie Marsh's possible backstory. Woolf also was considered a feminist, and she shows through the narrator her views on female roles and gender inequality. Minnie seems to have fallen for James Moggridge. James came to dine with the Marshes while he was traveling, and Minnie expresses deep sadness when James dies. The narrator also suggests that there never was a James, and Minnie only longed for something she could not have.

The end of the story shows Minnie leaving the train to meet up with her son which makes the narrator confused since the fictitious backstory of the woman never included a husband or children. Minnie is the meager and timid aunt. She is the broken sister-in-law to Hilda who is strong, bold, brazen, and loud. How the narrator describes the women also expresses the views that Woolf has about the types of women in society during her lifetime. Some were shy and reserved because they adhered to the old ways in which women were supposed to act. Some were bold and outspoken and expressed themselves like the women of the feminist movement. Woolf uses these characters and their possible backstories to show the differences in societal standards for women during her lifetime.