Room of Ones Own- Practice Reflection

Nora Duricic

In the audio clip of Virginia Woolf, wherein she delves into the themes of language
and writing, and how the two inevitably intertwine, one comment made that
particularly caught my attention was her statement about writing and truth. Though
not a direct quote, her statement alluded to the idea that if one could teach others
to write the truth, he would deserve the greatest gift humanity could award him.
However, in my view, this statement is entirely untrue. What she is essentially
saying is that if writing isnt an accurate portrayal of reality, this diminishes the
value of its contribution to society. Yet, in my opinion, it can often be the opposite.
Writing is a means for people to find emotion, to feel, to think, to express
themselves. It is a way for them to express that which they could not otherwise
express, or to dive into a world they could otherwise not even dream of. Its an
escape from reality, and as such, why should we be aiming to make it as similar to
reality as possible, to make it truthful? Truth is important, and yet truth is often
times difficult. So in my opinion, writing should be free, a way for us to once in a
while just rid ourselves of any expectations, any requirements, and do what we can
to fulfill ourselves. Rather than live in an endless pursuit of truth, live in the pursuit
of happiness.
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