The imagery of Woolf’s childhood body - “A Sketch of the Past”
Woolf recalls, “Once when I was very small Geralf Duckworth lifted me onto his, and as I sat there he began to explore my body. I can remember the feel of his hand going under my clothes; going firmly steadily lower and lower. I remember how I hoped that he would stop; how I stiffened and wriggled as his hand approached my private parts…I remember resenting, disliking it- what is the word for so dumb and mixed a feeling.” In the framework of the Queer theory, Virginia’s repulsion of Duckworth’s caresses alludes to her queerness since the touch does not excite her erotically as they would for a heterosexual. Her displeasure implies that she does not relish any pleasure following the intimate touching.
The Imagery of Hyde Park Gate - “Old Bloomsbury”
Woolf expounds, “The atmosphere of Hyde Park Gate had been full of love and marriage, George's engagement to Flora Russell, Stella’s to Jack Hills, Gerald’s innumerable flirtations were all discussed in private or openly with the greatest interest. Vanessa was already supposed to have attracted Austen Chamberlain.” The ambiance depicts an omnipresence of love. It is comparable to a contagion whereby the individuals there yearn to relish Eros like their acquaintances. The romance and matrimonies at Hyde Park Gate are ascribed to Love instinct.
Looking-Glass - “A Sketch of the Past”
Woolf recounts, “There was a small looking-glass in the hall at Talland House. It had, I remember, a ledge with a brush on it. By standing on tiptoe I could see my face in the glass. When I was six or seven perhaps, I got the habit of looking at my face in the glass. But I only did this if I was sure I was alone. I was ashamed of it.” The glass influences Woolf’s perceptions of herself. Her resolution to look into it when no one is present surmises that she is not pleased with her looks. Moreover, her shame depicts her low self-esteem which is attributed to the reflections which the glass produces convincing her that she is not appealing.
“Cotton wool” - “A Sketch of the Past”
Woolf expounds, “ As a child then, my days, just as they do now, contained a large proportion of this cotton wool, this non-being.” The cotton-wool denotes Woolf’s feelings of insignificance which hinders her from delighting in her existence. She feels that she is too insignificant; hence, her survival is immaterial. Moreover, equating her feelings to cotton-wool denotes a perception of invisibility which mars her childhood with melancholy.
