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"The London Scene": Gender and Class in Virginia Woolf's London
Author(s): Susan Squier
Source: Twentieth Century Literature, Vol. 29, No. 4, Henry Green (Winter, 1983), pp. 488- 500 Published by: Hofstra University Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/441430 Accessed: 03/03/2010 18:10 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp. JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use provides, in part, that unless you have obtained prior permission, you may not download an entire issue of a journal or multiple copies of articles, and you may use content in the JSTOR archive only for your personal, non-commercial use. Please contact the publisher regarding any further use of this work. Publisher contact information may be obtained at http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublisher?publisherCode=hofstra. Each copy of any part of a JSTOR transmission must contain the same copyright notice that appears on the screen or printed page of such transmission. JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org. Hofstra University is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Twentieth Century Literature. http://www.jstor.org " T h e L o n d o n S c e n e " : G e n d e r a n d C l a s s i n V i r g i n i a W o o l f ' s L o n d o n S US AN S QUIER W h e th e r s h e th o ug h t i t " th e mo s t be a uti f ul pl a c e o n th e f a c e o f th e e a r th " o r " th e ve r y d e vi l ," to V i r g i n i a W o o l f th e c i ty o f L o n d o n wa s th e f o c us f o r a n i n te n s e , o f te n a mbi va l e n t, l i f e l o n g s c r uti n y. No t o n l y d i d s h e ma ke h e r h o me th e r e f o r n e a r l y a l l o f h e r f i f ty-n i n e ye a r s -f i r s t i n th e n a r r o w s tr e e ts o f Ke n s i n g to n a n d th e n i n th e s pa c i o us s qua r e s o f Bl o o ms bur y-but s h e f o un d i t a po we r f ul l y e vo c a ti ve f i g ur e i n th e l i te r a r y tr a d i ti o n wi th i n wh i c h s h e wr o te . An d o n e o f th e mo s t po we r f ul n o n f i c ti o n r e pr e s e n ta ti o n s o f V i r g i n i a W o o l f ' s r e s po n s e to L o n d o n wa s th e s e r i e s o f s i x e s s a ys wh i c h a ppe a r e d a l i ttl e o ve r f i f ty ye a r s a g o , f r o m De c e mbe r 1931 to De c e mbe r 1932, i n th e ma g a zi n e G o o d Ho us e ke e pi n g . As th e i r ti tl e s i n d i c a te , th e e s s a ys s ur ve ye d th e h i g h s a n d l o ws o f th e c i ty: " T h e Do c ks o f L o n d o n ," " Oxf o r d S tr e e t T i d e ," " G r e a t Me n ' s Ho us e s ," " Abbe ys a n d C a th e d r a l s ," " ' T h i s i s th e Ho us e o f C o mmo n s ,' " a n d " Po r tr a i t o f a L o n d o n e r ." Pl o tl e s s , d e s c r i pti ve , s l i g h t a s th e s e e s s a ys s e e me d a t th e ti me to W o o l f , to r e a d e r s o f to d a y th e " L o n d o n S c e n e " e s s a ys a r e f a s c i n a ti n g , f o r a s I wi l l s h o w, th e y r e ve a l V i r g i n i a W o o l f ' s a mbi va l e n c e a bo ut i d e n ti ty, s o c i a l po s i ti o n , a n d a c c e s s to ma te r i a l po s - s e s s i o n s , a n d th e y c o n ta i n th e s tr a te g i e s f o r g e d to a c c o mmo d a te h e r c h a n g i n g s e n s e o f s e l f a n d s o c i a l pl a c e wi th o ut a l i e n a ti n g th e G o o d Ho us e ke e pi n g a ud i e n c e . Al th o ug h th e " L o n d o n S c e n e " e s s a ys c e l e br a te a c o n ve n ti o n a l l y mo d e r n i s t s e tti n g , th e c i ty, th e y a r e a n yth i n g but c o n - ve n ti o n a l l y mo d e r n i s t i n th e i r a ppr o a c h . At th e i r be s t th e y s ubve r t th e o f te n c o mpl a c e n t g e n r e o f th e ur ba n tr a ve l o g ue to po r tr a y g e n d e r a n d c l a s s r e l a ti o n s i n th e mo d e r n c i ty.1 W o o l f s tr ug g l e d wi th c o n f l i c ti n g i d e n ti f i c a ti o n s i n th e " L o n d o n S c e n e " e s s a ys , be twe e n i n s i d e r s (me n , th e uppe r c l a s s e s ) a n d o uts i d e r s (wo me n , th e wo r ki n g c l a s s e s ), a n d s h e us e d a n umbe r o f d i f f e r e n t 488 V IRG INIA W OOL F' S L ONDON te c h n i que s (n o t a l wa ys wi th c o mpl e te s uc c e s s ) to c o pe wi th th i s c o n f l i c t. W i th two ma jo r d e l e ti o n s i n r e vi s i o n o f " T h e Do c ks o f L o n d o n ," W o o l f e s ta bl i s h e d h e r i d e n ti f i c a ti o n wi th th e c o n s umi n g mi d d l e c l a s s , a n d a vo i d e d f r i c ti o n wi th th e ma g a zi n e ' s a ud i e n c e . In " Oxf o r d S tr e e t T i d e ," W o o l f us e d th e c o n tr a s t be twe e n a n a ppr e c i a ti ve o bs e r ve r o f c i ty l i f e a n d a s o ur " mo r a l i s t" to s ug g e s t h e r d i ve r g e n c e f r o m th e c o n - ve n ti o n a l l y a n ti -ur ba n s e n ti me n ts o f V i c to r i a n a n d mo d e r n i s t th i n ke r s , a d i f f e r e n c e ba s e d o n h e r a f f i r ma ti o n o f o uts i d e r s a n d th e wo r ki n g c l a s s . In " G r e a t Me n ' s Ho us e s ," s h e s ubve r te d th e d e ma n d s o f th e s ta n d a r d jo ur n a l i s ti c h o us e to ur , ma ki n g i t i n s te a d a n i r o n i c c h a l l e n g e to th e va l ue s i mpl i c i t i n T h o ma s C a r l yl e ' s On He r o e s , He r o -W o r s h i p a n d th e He r o i c i n Hi s to r y a n d a n e xpo s e o f wo ma n ' s e xpl o i ta ti o n , wh a te ve r h e r c l a s s , by th o s e h e r o i c " g r e a t me n ." In " Abbe ys a n d C a th e d r a l s " a n d " ' T h i s i s th e Ho us e o f C o mmo n s ,' " W o o l f s po i n t o f vi e w wa ve r e d be twe e n i n s i d e r s a n d o uts i d e r s , pe r h a ps d ue to h e r pe r s i s te n t a l l e - g i a n c e to th e c o n c e pt o f a l i te r a r y e l i te e ve n wh e n i d e o l o g i c a l l y o ppo s e d to th e e xi s te n c e o f s o c i a l h i e r a r c h i e s . Al th o ug h th e y r e ve a l th e s a me f l uc tua ti n g i d e n ti f i c a ti o n , f o r my pur po s e s th o s e two e s s a ys a r e l e s s i n te r e s ti n g th a n th e o th e r s , a n d I wi l l n o t d i s c us s th e m. In th e f i n a l " L o n d o n S c e n e " e s s a y, " Po r tr a i t o f a L o n d o n e r ," W o o l f n o s ta l g i c a l l y e vo ke d a c h a r a c te r i s ti c V i c to r i a n L o n d o n e r , Mr s . C r o we , o n l y to bi d f a r e we l l bo th to h e r a n d to th e r a ti o n a l , o r d e r e d c i ty s h e c h r o n i c l e d . In s o d o i n g , W o o l f e s ta bl i s h e d h e r o wn po i n t o f vi e w, i n d i s ti n c ti o n bo th to h e r V i c to r i a n f o r e f a th e r s a n d h e r mo d e r n i s t br e th r e n , pr e f e r r i n g to th e s e c ur i ty o f th e i n s i d e r th e f r e e d o m a n d vi ta l i ty o f th e o uts i d e r .2 In ma n us c r i pt, " T h e Do c ks o f L o n d o n " pr o vi d e s o n e o f th e mo s t s us ta i n e d vi s i o n s i n W o o l f ' s wo r ks o f th e i n d us tr i a l o r c o mme r c i a l c i ty. T h e d r a f t ve r s i o n o f th e e s s a y i s wo r th quo ti n g a t s o me l e n g th , be c a us e i n r e vi s i o n W o o l f ma d e two d r a s ti c d e l e ti o n s wh i c h c h a n g e d th e c h a r - a c te r o f th e e s s a y c o mpl e te l y. Juxta po s i n g to th e r o ma n c e o f th e s e a th e a n ti r o ma n ti c d e ta i l s o f l a bo r i n g L o n d o n , th e e s s a y c o n s i d e r s , i n th e f i r s t d e l e te d pa s s a g e , th e pr o c e s s , wh i c h i s d a i l y d i s c h a r g e d i n th e po r t o f L o n d o n , o f r e c e i vi n g th i s i mme n s e me r c h a n d i s e , o f ta ki n g i t o n s h o r e , o f o pe n i n g i t, s o r ti n g i t, s a mpl i n g i t, we i g h i n g i t, s e l l i n g i t, d i s - tr i buti n g i t, & pa s s i n g i t o n , i n i ts c r ud e s ta te , to be c o o ke d , ba ke d , ta n n e d , wo r ke d , s e a s o n e d , r o l l e d ,-ma d e i n s h o r t i n to th e mi l l i o n d i f f e r e n t l uxur i e s & n e c e s s i ti e s upo n wh i c h n o t o n l y L o n d o n but a l l En g l a n d wi l l f e e d ; wi l l we a r -wi l l us e i n i ts c a r s i n i ts h o us e s , i n i ts s tr e e ts -th i s va s t pa ti e n t s ki l l f ul & un r e mi t- ti n g l a bo ur i s f ul l o f s we a t & a g o n y & s qua l o r & h o r r o r . L o o ki n g 489 T W ENT IET H C ENT URY L IT ERAT URE o ut to s e a i s o n e th i n g , a t th e s pl e n d i d s h i p, c r o wd i n g h e r wh i te s a i l s , l e a n i n g a c r o s s th e bo s o m o f th e a r g e n t W e s t, but tur n Ea s t; l o o k a t th e bl i g h t & s qua l o r th a t s ur r o un d s us ; a s we tur n , to g o to wa r d s th e vo r a c i o us c i ty wh i c h th o s e wh i te s a i l s f e e d . No th i n g c a n be muc h mo r e d i s ma l . Fa c to r i e s & o f f i c e s l i n e th e s h o r e ; s ta n d c r o wd e d i n th e mud . Be h i n d a r e th e me a n e s t s tr e e ts i n L o n d o n . T h e l i n e o f wa r e h o us e s i s bl a c k, d i n g y, d e - c r e pi t l o o ki n g . He r e & th e r e a r e va s t f a c to r i e s ; wh e th e r n e w o r o l d d o e s n o t ma tte r -T h e s a me d i n g y g r e y bl a c k c o a ts th e m a l l . T h e y c r o wd wi th o ut o r d e r o r i n te n ti o n . If a wi n d o w i s br o ke n br o ke n i t r e ma i n s . T h e y h a ve n e i th e r s i ze n o r s tr e n g th . T h e y s e e m r un up & pur e l y uti l i ta r i a n & to f a l l . W h e n o n e o f th e m h a s be e n bl a c ke n e d by f i r e i t s e e ms s c a r c e l y mo r e d e r e l i c t & r ui n o us th a n th e o th e r . Be h i n d th e m i n r i d g e s o f g r e y r i s e th e me a n s tr e e ts -wh i c h h o us e th e d o c k l a bo r e r s .3 S uf f e r i n g a n d h o r r o r ; s qua l o r a n d s we a t. T h e bl a me f o r th i s pa i n - f ul me l a n g e o f f a c ts a n d f e e l i n g s i s i n e s c a pa bl e . It be l o n g s to th e un th i n ki n g c o n s ume r s o f En g l a n d , wh o e xpe c t ba l e s o f wo o l to tur n e a s i l y i n to s mo o th s we a te r s f o r Bo n d S tr e e t s to r e s . W o o l f d e ta i l s th e c o mpl i c a te d pr o c e s s o f c o mme r c i a l pr o d uc ti o n , wh o s e pr i c e i s pa i n a n d wh o s e h a bi ta t i s th i s d i s ma l qua r te r o f th e c i ty. S h e f o r c e s upo n o ur a tte n ti o n th e d r a ma ti c d i f f e r e n c e be twe e n th e r o ma n ti c d r e a ms o f th e W e s t, wh e r e " s pl e n d i d s h i ps " s a i l th e s e a s , a n d th e s qua l o r o f th e Ea s t, wh e r e me a n s tr e e ts s po r t d i n g y wa r e h o us e s a n d br uta l l y uti l i ta r i a n f a c to r i e s . T h e c o n tr a s t i s h i s to r i c a l a s we l l a s g e o g r a ph i c : o n l a n d o n c e g r a c e d by g r a s s a n d tr e e s , c h ur c h e s a n d c o un tr y i n n s , n o w s qua ts th e " vo r a c i o us c i ty" wi th i ts f a c to r i e s a n d wa r e h o us e s , th e d e tr i tus o f c a r e - l e s s , g r e e d y, h a ph a za r d i n d us tr i a l pr o d uc ti o n . In th i s pa s s a g e f r o m th e un publ i s h e d d r a f t o f " T h e Do c ks o f L o n d o n ," V i r g i n i a W o o l f c r e a te s a me mo r a bl e i ma g e f o r a pa i n f ul f a c t: th e pr i c e i n h uma n s uf f e r i n g pa i d by th e wo r ki n g c l a s s e s to pr o d uc e th e n e c e s s i ti e s a n d l uxur i e s wh i c h mi d d l e - a n d uppe r -c l a s s En g l a n d c o n s ume s . Ye t wh e n we e xa mi n e th e publ i s h e d ve r s i o n o f th i s s c e n e , we f i n d a d r a s ti c c h a n g e . Un pe o pl e d , th e vi s ta pr e s e n ts o n l y a r c h i te c tur a l d i s - o r d e r ; i ts o n l y pa i n i s th e vi s ua l d i s c o mf o r t o f th e s e n s i ti ve , d e ta c h e d a e s th e te wh o pe r c e i ve s i t. Fa c ts , be f o r e s o f i r ml y pr e s e n te d -th e pr i c e o f i n d us tr y a n d c o mme r c e , th e h uma n c o s t o f r e f i n i n g r a w ma te r i a l s -h a ve me l te d i n to a tmo s ph e r e . W h e th e r c o n s c i o us l y o r un - c o n s c i o us l y, i n d e pe n d e n tl y o r f o l l o wi n g e d i to r i a l s ug g e s ti o n th e r e i s n o wa y o f kn o wi n g , V i r g i n i a W o o l f to n e d th e f a c ts d o wn a s s h e r e vi s e d " T h e Do c ks o f L o n d o n ." By th e f i n a l ve r s i o n s h e h a d d e l e te d bo th 490 V IRG INIA W OOL F' S L ONDON e xte n d e d pa s s a g e s o f s o c i a l c r i ti c i s m, a n d th e n a r r a to r ' s s ympa th y f o r th e wo r ke r s h a d g i ve n wa y to a mo r e c o mf o r ta bl e a l i e n a ti o n f r o m th e m, a s e n s e o f th e m a s ta i n te d a n d s i n i s te r a n d o f th e i r a r e a o f th e c i ty a s mys te r i o us , d i n g y, f r e a ki s h , " a d wa r f c i ty o f wo r kme n ' s h o us e s ." 4 On e wa y o f e xpl a i n i n g th i s s h i f t i n " T h e Do c ks o f L o n d o n ," o n e mo r e e xa mpl e o f wh i c h I wi l l g o o n to d i s c us s , wo ul d be to s a y th a t a n ti c i pa ti o n o f th e a ud i e n c e ' s pr o ba bl e n e g a ti ve r e s po n s e s h a pe d W o o l f ' s r e vi s i o n s . Ye t h e r o wn d i s c o mf o r t wi th th e " f a c ts " o f d o c ks i d e L o n d o n , o f wh i c h s h e c o mpl a i n e d i n a l e tte r to Eth e l S myth i n Ma r c h 1931, s e e ms a l s o to h a ve be a r i n g o n th e d e l e ti o n s . Po s s i bl y s h e h e r s e l f f e l t to r n be twe e n h e r s e n s e o f c ul tur a l pr i vi l e g e , a s a d a ug h te r o f S i r L e s l i e S te ph e n , a n d h e r f e ma l e e xpe r i e n c e , d a ti n g ba c k a t l e a s t to h e r a d o l e s c e n c e , o f th e " o uts i d e r ' s f e e l i n g ." 5 T h e l o c us o f a l l e g i a n c e i n " T h e Do c ks o f L o n d o n " s e e ms to c h a n g e f r o m i d e n ti f i c a ti o n a l o n g g e n d e r l i n e s , a s a po we r l e s s wo ma n , to i d e n ti f i c a ti o n a l o n g c l a s s l i n e s , a s o n e o f th e pr i vi l e g e d L o n d o n e l i te . Ho we ve r , g e n d e r i s a t ti me s o n l y i mpl i c i tl y pr e s e n t i n th e po r tr a i t o f wo r ki n g -c l a s s L o n d o n , a n d c l a s s pr i vi l e g e be l o n g s to th e n a r r a to r , a s to W o o l f h e r s e l f , by vi r tue o n l y o f h e r a n c i l l a r y po s i ti o n a s o n e o f th e " d a ug h te r s o f e d uc a te d me n ." 6 In th e s e c o n d e xte n s i ve d e l e ti o n , g e n d e r r e l a ti o n s jo i n c l a s s r e l a - ti o n s o ve r tl y, wh e n W o o l f c o mpa r e s th e s pa c e o f s e r va n ts to th a t o f th e " ma s te r ." T h e r e s ul t i s a d e l i g h tf ul l y Di c ke n s i a n vi s i o n o f L o n d o n d i vi d e d be twe e n me s s y, e xpl o i ta ti ve ma l e ma s te r s a n d o ve r bur d e n e d f e ma l e h o us e ke e pe r s , a vi s i o n wh i c h r e g r e tta bl y a ppe a r s n o wh e r e i n th e publ i s h e d ve r s i o n . W h e n th e pa s s a g e be g i n s , we s ur ve y a n a r e a i n wh i c h i t s e e ms a s i f f o r ti f i c a ti o n s we r e be i n g r a i s e d . But i n f a c t th e s e d yke s a r e bui l t o f o l d f i r e s [a s h e s ] & ve g e ta bl e s . L o n d o n i s s e n d i n g o ut th e c o n te n ts o f h e r d us tbi n s . Ba r g e s c o me d o wn h e a pe d wi th ti n c a n s . T h e L o n d o n e r l e a ve s be h i n d h i m e ve r y d a y a f i r e [ti n ] & f i s h , bo n e s , a s h e s , ve g e ta bl e s . An d h e r e th e y a r e , [be i n g ] d umpe d by me n o ut to th e s e a n c i e n t f i f ty ye a r o l d r ubbi s h h e a ps , by th e r i ve r ; wh i c h g r o w & g r o w; & s o me ti me s c a tc h f i r e -s mo ul d e r ; & s o me ti me s r e ma i n d a mp & s o d d e n , s o th a t we e d s f l o ur i s h & r a ts a c c umul a te . An d h e r e i s a n a mbi g uo us ve s s e l , n e i th e r s h i p n o r ma c h i n e , but s o me th i n g be twe e n th e two , wh i c h i s d r e d g i n g th e r i ve r bo tto m. T h e s i l t wi l l be c a r r i e d o ut s e ve n ty mi l e s & d r o ppe d i n to th e s e a . Al l i s a c ti vi ty & [h o us e ma i d s ] Eve r ywh e r e th i n g s a r e be i n g s o r te d , o r d e r e d , ke pt i n be i n g . He r e i s L o n d o n ' s s c ul l e r y, i ts wa s h i n g up pl a c e , i ts ki tc h e n o f f i c e s . An d th e n , jus t a s we a r e g i ve n up to th i n ki n g o f L o n d o n a s th e ma s te r , wh e r e me n , wh o s e h a bi t o f th r o wi n g a wa y 491 T W ENT IET H C ENT URY L IT ERAT URE ti n s , c a bba g e , s ki ttl e s ke e ps th e wh o l e po pul a ti o n h e r e bus y c l e a r i n g [c l e a n i n g ] up a f te r h e r , d o wn c o me s a g r e a t s te a me r bo un d f o r In d i a . ..7 W o o l f ' s tr a d i ti o n a l i d e n ti f i c a ti o n o f th e c i ty a s f e ma l e , " s h e ," i s te l l i n g l y un d e r c ut by h e r po te n t d e s c r i pti o n o f i t a s th e " ma s te r ." In a d o me s ti c vi s i o n wh i c h s pl i ts L o n d o n d r a ma ti c a l l y a l o n g th e l i n e s o f g e n d e r a n d c l a s s , th e g r e a t c i ty be c o me s a g a r ba g e -s pe wi n g uppe r -c l a s s ma n a n d th e po pul a c e wo r ki n g -c l a s s h o us e ma i d s . T h i s d i c h o to my wo ul d r e c ur i n T h e Ye a r s , wh i c h a s Ja n e Ma r c us h a s po i n te d o ut " s h o ws us me n ma ki n g mo n e y, ma ki n g wa r , ma ki n g l o ve , ma ki n g bo o ks , a n d ma ki n g a c o l o s s a l me s s , a n d wo me n c l e a n i n g i t up a f te r th e m. On l y a wo ma n l i ke V i r - g i n i a W o o l f c o ul d c o n c e i ve o f th e me ta ph o r o f th e a r ti s t a s c h a r wo ma n to th e wo r l d ." 8 An d o n l y V i r g i n i a W o o l f c o ul d c o n jur e up th e " a m- bi g uo us ve h i c l e , n e i th e r s h i p n o r ma c h i n e ," wh o be a r s s uc h a n e vo c a - ti ve a n a l o g i c a l r e l a ti o n s h i p to i ts c r e a to r , wi th h e r c o n f l i c te d s e n s e o f s e l f a n d s o c i a l pl a c e . W h i c h wa s s h e , V i r g i n i a W o o l f ma y h a ve wo n - d e r e d : a g l o r i o us wh i te s h i p bo un d f o r i mpe r i a l i s t In d i a ? Or a d r e d g e , a d r ud g e , a pr o s a i c f e ma l e ma c h i n e ? T h e publ i s h e d ve r s i o n o f th i s f a s c i n a ti n g pa s s a g e , o n c e a g a i n , i s d ul l , s a f e , br i e f , a n d r a th e r f l a t. Ba r g e s h e a pe d wi th o l d buc ke ts , r a zo r bl a d e s , f i s h ta i l s , n e ws pa - pe r s a n d a s h e s -wh a te ve r we l e a ve o n o ur pl a te s a n d th r o w i n to o ur d us t bi n s -a r e d i s c h a r g i n g th e i r c a r g o e s upo n th e mo s t d e s o l a te l a n d i n th e wo r l d . T h e l o n g mo un d s h a ve be e n f umi n g a n d s mo ki n g a n d h a r bo ur i n g i n n ume r a bl e r a ts a n d g r o wi n g a r a n k c o a r s e g r a s s a n d g i vi n g o f f a g r i tty, a c r i d a i r f o r f i f ty ye a r s . T h e d umps g e t h i g h e r a n d h i g h e r , a n d th i c ke r a n d th i c ke r , th e i r s i d e s mo r e pr e c i pi to us wi th ti n c a n s , th e i r pi n n a c l e s mo r e a n g u- l a r wi th a s h e s ye a r by ye a r .9 W o o l f ' s s h i f t i n i d e n ti f i c a ti o n i s un mi s ta ka bl e : n o w th e a s h h e a ps a r e bui l t by i n vi s i bl e wo r ke r s f r o m " wh a te ve r we l e a ve o n o ur pl a te s a n d th r o w i n to o ur d us tbi n s ." [Emph a s i s mi n e .] S h e h a s jo i n e d h e r a ud i e n c e i n th e c o n s ume r me n ta l i ty o f th e mi d d l e c l a s s , r a th e r th a n s h a r i n g th e wo r ke r ' s d r ud g e r y. Fr o m " vo r a c i o us c i ty" a n d g a r ba g e -s pe wi n g " ma s te r ," L o n d o n ' s i d e n ti ty h a s c h a n g e d i n th e r e vi s e d ve r s i o n o f " T h e Do c ks o f L o n d o n " to " n o bl e c i ty," jus t a s th e n a r r a to r h a s s h i f te d a l l e g i a n c e f r o m th e wo r ke r s to th e c o n s ume r s . T h e d e l e ti o n o f th e s e two pa s s a g e s o f i m- pl i c i t s o c i a l c r i ti c i s m l e n d s a n a i r o f r e s i g n a ti o n to th e e s s a y' s c o n c l u- s i o n . In s te a d o f th e i r o n i c vo i c e wh i c h we mi g h t h e a r , i f th e s o c i a l c r i ti c i s m r e ma i n e d to c r e a te a c o n te xt f o r i t, we h e a r o n l y s e l f - c o n g r a tul a ti o n . 492 V IRG INIA W OOL F' S L ONDON It i s we -o ur ta s te s , o ur f a s h i o n s , o ur n e e d s -th a t ma ke th e c r a n e s d i p a n d s wi n g , th a t c a l l th e s h i ps f r o m th e s e a . Our bo d y i s th e i r ma s te r . W e d e ma n d s h o e s , f ur s , ba g s , s to ve s , o i l , r i c e pud - d i n g s , c a n d l e s ; a n d th e y a r e br o ug h t to us . T r a d e wa tc h e s us a n xi o us l y to s e e wh a t n e w d e s i r e s a r e be g i n n i n g to g r o w i n us , wh a t n e w d i s l i ke s . On e f e e l s a n i mpo r ta n t, a c o mpl e x, a n e c e s - s a r y a n i ma l a s o n e s ta n d s o n th e qua ys i d e wa tc h i n g th e c r a n e s h o i s t th i s ba r r e l , th a t c r a te , th a t o th e r ba l e f r o m th e h o l d s o f th e s h i ps th a t h a ve c o me to a n c h o r .10 [Emph a s i s mi n e .] T h e wo r ke r s h a ve be c o me i n vi s i bl e . " On e " o n l y f e e l s o f s uc h i m- po r ta n c e , pr o mi n e n c e , a n d po we r i f " o n e " i s a me mbe r o f th e c o n - s umi n g c l a s s , s ta n d i n g a t qua ys i d e wa tc h i n g r a th e r th a n o pe r a ti n g a c r a n e o r h o i s ti n g ba r r e l s . Fr o m th e s ubve r s i ve vi s i o n o f th e e s s a y' s e a r l i e r d r a f t, W o o l f h a s mo ve d to c o mpl a c e n c y i n th e publ i s h e d ve r - s i o n : " o n e " i s n o w n o t th e h o us e ma i d wh o c l e a n s up a f te r h i m, but th e " ma s te r " h i ms e l f . L i ke s o ma n y o f W o o l f ' s e s s a ys , " T h e Do c ks o f L o n d o n " e n d s i n f ul l ti d e . A wo o l a uc ti o n i s o ve r , a n d n o w " [th e ] c a r t h o r s e s a r e s tr ug g l i n g a n d s tr i vi n g to d i s tr i bute th e wo o l o ve r En g l a n d ." " Oxf o r d S tr e e t T i d e ," th e n e xt i n th e " L o n d o n S c e n e " s e r i e s , d e s c r i be s th a t wo o l wh e n i t h a s be e n tr a n s f o r me d i n to a f i n i s h e d pr o d uc t, " th i n ve s ts a n d s o f t s to c ki n g s ," f o r th e Oxf o r d S tr e e t s to r e s . Al th o ug h i t r e f l e c ts s i mi l a r c o n f l i c ti n g i d e n ti f i c a ti o n s a s i ts pr e d e c e s s o r , i n th i s e s s a y W o o l f mo r e s te a d i l y ma i n ta i n s h e r c o n tr o l o ve r vo i c e a n d po i n t o f vi e w, by us i n g th e s tr uc tur a l d e vi c e , f a mi l i a r f r o m A Ro o m o f On e ' s Own , o f th e d o ubl e pe r s pe c ti ve . In " Oxf o r d S tr e e t T i d e ," th e pr i ma r y pe r s pe c ti ve i s th a t o f a n a ppr e c i a ti ve o bs e r ve r , i mpr e s s e d wi th th e va r i e ty o f Oxf o r d S tr e e t' s f i n i s h e d g o o d s , a n d e ve n mo r e i mpr e s s e d by th e a tti tud e s to wa r d l i f e th e y e xe mpl i f y. Pl a ye d o f f a g a i n s t th a t pe r s pe c ti ve i s th e vi e w o f a " mo r a l i s t," br o ug h t i n o n l y a s a pa r o d y o f th e V i c to r i a n va l ue s h e mo uth s . T h e l a tte r s c o r n s Oxf o r d S tr e e t a n d a l l i t r e pr e s e n ts , f o r r e a s o n s W o o l f e l a bo r a te s upo n a n d a tta c ks i n th e c o ur s e o f th e e s s a y. T h e d i vi s i o n o f pe r s pe c ti ve s i n to th e mo r a l i s t a n d th e a ppr e c i a ti ve o bs e r ve r e mph a s i ze s th e d i s ti n c ti o n be twe e n V i c to r i a n a n d mo d e r n va l ua ti o n s o f th e c i ty, jus t a s th e i ma g e o f Oxf o r d S tr e e t a s a " ti d e " r e c a l l s V i c to r i a n wr i te r s ' c h a r a c te r i s ti c f i g ur e s f o r th e c i ty, " a d r a s ti c wa r , a s tr e a m, a ti d e , o r s o me va r i a n t o f C o bbe tt' s ' g r e a t we n ,' " wh i l e a l s o c o n ta i n i n g th e mo d e r n i ma g e o f ur ba n l i f e a s a r i ve r o f s e n s a ti o n a n d a c ti vi ty." I T h e a ppr e c i a ti ve o bs e r ve r c e l e br a te s th e s tr e e t a s a ma n i f e s ta ti o n o f th e ur ba n s pi r i t, i n pa r ti c ul a r o f i ts s ti mul a ti n g s h o c k a n d c h a n g e . 493 T W ENT IET H C ENT URY L IT ERAT URE T o h i m, Oxf o r d S tr e e t i s a s yn e s th e ti c d e l i g h t: " [T h e ] mi n d be c o me s a g l uti n o us s l a b th a t ta ke s i mpr e s s i o n s a n d Oxf o r d S tr e e t r o l l s upo n i t a pe r pe tua l r i bbo n o f c h a n g i n g s i g h ts , s o un d s , a n d mo ve me n t." ' 2 Hi s vi s i o n o f th e c i ty n o t o n l y c h a l l e n g e s th e V i c to r i a n a n ti pa th y to ur ba n c o mme r c i a l i s m e xpr e s s e d by th e mo r a l i s t, wh o pr o c l a i ms h i s d i s ta s te f o r i ts " bl a ta n t a n d r a uc o us " s pi r i t, but a l s o que r i e s th e mo d e r n i s t a s s umpti o n th a t ur ba n s ti mul a ti o n pr o d uc e d a l i e n a ti o n a n d a n o mi e . In s te a d , h e r e po r ts th a t th e c i ty d we l l e r th r i ve s o n s e n s a ti o n i n a n a l mo s t vi s c e r a l wa y: " Ne ws c h a n g e s qui c ke r [i n Oxf o r d S tr e e t] th a n i n a n y o th e r pa r t o f L o n d o n . T h e pr e s s o f pe o pl e pa s s i n g s e e ms to l i c k th e i n k o f f th e pl a c a r d s a n d to c o n s ume mo r e o f th e m a n d to d e ma n d f r e s h s uppl i e s o f l a te r e d i ti o n s f a s te r th a n e l s e wh e r e ." 13 Fo r W o o l f ' s a ppr e c i a ti ve o bs e r ve r , L o n d o n o f f e r s mo r e th a n me r e l y a pl e a s a n t a e s th e ti c e xpe r i e n c e . Its d i s c o n ti n uo us n a tur e h a s po l i ti c a l c o n s e - que n c e s a s we l l : th e d a s h i n g s tr e a m o f ur ba n l i f e s h a ke s th e c i ty d we l l e r l o o s e f r o m h a bi t to e n te r ta i n , tr a n s f o r m, l i be r a te . An d , i n th e i r tr a n s i to r y n a tur e , th e c o mme r c i a l Oxf o r d S tr e e t " pa l a c e s " a r e f a n c i f ul s tr uc tur e s wh i c h a l s o pl e a s e us i n n e w wa ys . " T h e c h a r m o f mo d e r n L o n d o n i s th a t ... i t i s bui l t to pa s s . Its g l a s s i n e s s , i ts tr a n s pa r e n c y, i ts s ur g i n g wa ve s o f c o l o ur e d pl a s te r g i ve us a d i f f e r e n t pl e a s ur e a n d a c h i e ve a d i f f e r e n t e n d f r o m th a t wh i c h wa s d e s i r e d a n d a tte mpte d by th e o l d bui l d e r s a n d th e i r pa tr o n s , th e n o bi l i ty o f En - g l a n d ." 14 W h i l e n o bl e s wa n te d th e i l l us i o n o f pe r ma n e n c e , th e n e w d e mo c r a ti c c r o wd s , th e wo r ki n g -c l a s s s tr e e t ve n d o r s , pr e f e r a n a r c h i - te c tur e r e f l e c ti n g th e i r o wn s pi r i t o f c r e a ti ve i n n o va ti o n . " W e kn o c k d o wn a n d r e bui l d a s we e xpe c t to be kn o c ke d d o wn a n d r e bui l t. It i s a n i mpul s e th a t ma ke s f o r c r e a ti o n a n d f e r ti l i ty. Di s c o ve r y i s s ti mul a te d a n d i n ve n ti o n o n th e a l e r t." ' 5 Fur th e r mo r e , Oxf o r d S tr e e t i n d uc e s e mpa th y wi th th e va r i e d vo i c e s o f th e s tr e e t c r o wd , e n a bl i n g i d e n ti f i c a - ti o n wi th th e d i s po s s e s s e d , e ve n th e c r i mi n a l . By s tr i ppi n g us o f th e d e f i n i n g a n d l i mi ti n g po s s e s s i o n s o f th e pr i va te h o me , th e c i ty s tr e e t pe r mi ts i ma g i n a ti ve pa s s a g e i n to ma n y l i ve s . T h i s r o l e -pl a yi n g po s s i bi l - i ty i n c i ty l i f e r e c a l l s th e th e me o f W o o l f ' s br i l l i a n t l i ttl e e s s a y, " S tr e e t Ha un ti n g ." 16 W o o l f us e s th e a ppr e c i a ti ve o bs e r ve r i n " Oxf o r d S tr e e t T i d e " to e xpr e s s h e r o wn c o n vi c ti o n th a t th e c i ty, a t i ts be s t, n ur tur e s e g a l i ta r i a n po l i ti c s , a e s th e ti c i n ve n ti ve n e s s , a n d pe r s o n a l e mpa th y. T h e i n tr o d uc - ti o n o f th e mo r a l i s t, wh o s e s to d g y po l i ti c a l , a e s th e ti c , a n d s o c i a l va l ue s W o o l f mo c ks , pe r mi ts a c o n s i d e r a ti o n a n d a d i s mi s s a l o f th e V i c to r i a n a n ti -ur ba n i s m h e e mbo d i e s , to o . " Eve n a mo r a l i s t," W o o l f i r o n i c a l l y a s s e r ts , " wh o i s , o n e mus t s uppo s e , s i n c e h e c a n s pe n d th e a f te r n o o n 494 V IRG INIA W OOL F' S L ONDON d r e a mi n g , a ma n wi th a ba l a n c e i n th e ba n k-e ve n a mo r a l i s t mus t a l l o w th a t th i s g a ud y, bus tl i n g , vul g a r s tr e e t r e mi n d s us th a t l i f e i s a s tr ug g l e ; th a t a l l bui l d i n g i s pe r i s h a bl e ; th a t a l l d i s pl a y i s va n i ty." 17 Ye t th e c o n s o l a ti o n s o f ph i l o s o ph y a r e pur c h a s e d by a f a t ba n k ba l a n c e ; n o s uc h po r te n to us s umma ti o n s a r e a c c e s s i bl e -h a ppi l y, W o o l f i mpl i e s -to th e l i ve l y but i mpe c un i o us c r o wd s o f Oxf o r d S tr e e t. No mo r a l i s t o r ph i l o s o ph e r , th e o bs e r ve r mo c ks s uc h c o n te mpl a ti ve te n - d e n c i e s a s a l i e n to th e s po n ta n e o us c o mme r c i a l i s m o f th e c i ty. " [Un ti l ] s o me a d r o i t s h o pke e pe r h a s c a ug h t o n to th e i d e a a n d o pe n e d c e l l s f o r s o l i ta r y me mbe r s h un g wi th g r e e n pl us h a n d pr o vi d e d wi th a uto ma ti c g l o w-wo r ms a n d a s pr i n kl i n g o f g e n ui n e d e a th ' s -h e a d mo th s to i n d uc e th o ug h t a n d r e f l e c ti o n , i t i s va i n to tr y to c o me to a c o n c l us i o n i n Oxf o r d S tr e e t." ' 8 W i th th i s pa r o d y o f th e mo r a l i s t' s V i c to r i a n jud i - c i o us n e s s , th e e s s a y e n d s , mo c ki n g th e i mpul s e to r e tr e a t i n to c o n te m- pl a ti o n a s a n e s c a pe f r o m th e s a l uta r y i mme d i a c y o f ur ba n e xpe r i e n c e . T h e n e xt e s s a y i n th e " L o n d o n S c e n e " s e r i e s f i g h ts th e po pul a r myth o f a g r e a t ma n ' s h o us e a s a " c e l l f o r s o l i ta r y th i n ke r s ," a s i t pur po r ts to o f f e r a to ur o f th e h o me s o f T h o ma s C a r l yl e a n d Jo h n Ke a ts . Ye t W o o l f ' s r e a l g o a l i n th e e s s a y i s s ubve r s i ve : to f i g h t th e i ma g e o f th e " g r e a t ma n " c r e a te d by C a r l yl e h i ms e l f , wh o a s s e r te d " i t i s th e s pi r i tua l a l wa ys th a t d e te r mi n e s th e ma te r i a l ," by f o c us i n g o n th e ma te r i a l c o n d i ti o n s o f th e g r e a t ma n ' s l i f e . W o o l f i n te n d s to s h o w a " Ma n -o f -L e tte r s " wh o i s n o t th e " He r o " o r " mo s t i mpo r ta n t mo d e r n pe r s o n ," a s C a r l yl e s a w h i m to be , but me r e l y a pr o s a i c d o me s ti c ma s te r . T o C a r l yl e ' s d e f i n i ti o n o f h i s to r y a s " a t bo tto m th e Hi s to r y o f th e G r e a t Me n wh o h a ve wo r ke d h e r e ," W o o l f o ppo s e s th i s s ma l l c h a pte r i n th e h i s to r y o f wo me n -bo th g r e a t a n d o r d i n a r y-be h i n d th e g r e a t ma n . L i g h ti n g o n th e o n e c r uc i a l , te l l i n g f a c t a bo ut th e C a r l yl e s ' e s ta bl i s h me n t-i ts l a c k o f r un n i n g wa te r -s h e mo vi n g l y d e s c r i be s th e e n o r mo us e f f o r t wh i c h we n t i n to th e d a i l y o pe r a ti o n o f th a t g r e a t ma n ' s h o me -a n e f f o r t put f o r th by wo me n .19 W h i l e C a r l yl e s a t " i n th e a tti c , un d e r a s kyl i g h t ... a s h e wr e s tl e d wi th h i s h i s to r y," d o wn i n th e l o we r qua r te r s o f th e h o us e h i s wi f e a n d ma i d wo r ke d to ke e p th e ba th wa te r h o t a n d d i r t a t ba y. " Al l th r o ug h th e mi d -V i c to r i a n a g e th e h o us e wa s n e c e s s a r i l y a ba ttl e f i e l d wh e r e d a i l y, s umme r a n d wi n te r , mi s tr e s s a n d ma i d f o ug h t a g a i n s t d i r t a n d c o l d f o r c l e a n l i n e s s a n d wa r mth ." 20 T h i s ve r ti c a l d i vi s i o n i n th e C a r l yl e s ' h o me r e c a l l s th e d i vi s i o n o f L o n d o n i n to ma l e pa r l o r a n d f e ma l e s c ul l e r y wh i c h W o o l f d e l e te d f r o m th e publ i s h e d ve r s i o n o f " T h e Do c ks o f L o n d o n ." Po l i ti c a l l y, th e vi s i o n i s r a d i c a l : mi s tr e s s a n d ma i d a r e 495 T W ENT IET H C ENT URY L IT ERAT URE un i te d i n o n e ba ttl e , th e f i g h t to c l e a n up th e ve r y me s s pr o d uc e d by T h o ma s C a r l yl e . W h i l e C a r l yl e a s s e r te d , i n On He r o e s , He r o -W o r s h i p, a n d th e He r o i c i n Hi s to r y, th a t " T h e He r o a s Ma n o f L e tte r s ... i s o n e o f th e ma i n f o r ms o f He r o i s m f o r a l l f utur e a g e s ," W o o l f ' s e s s a y r e ve a l s th e r e a l i ty o f wo ma n ' s l a bo r a n d th e e xte n t o f wo ma n ' s h e r o i s m.21 T h e o s te n s i bl e po r tr a i t o f a g r e a t ma n ' s h o us e be c o me s a po r tr a i t o f th e to r tur e s h i s r e qui r e me n ts i n f l i c te d upo n ma i d a n d wi f e a l i ke . Eve n th e po r tr a i t o f th e g r e a t ma n h a s be e n s ubve r te d i n to a s tr i ki n g po r tr a i t o f h i s wi f e , th e l o n g -s uf f e r i n g Ja n e W e l s h C a r l yl e . By pumpi n g a n d s c r ubbi n g , d a ys o f vi c to r y, e ve n i n g s o f pe a c e a n d s pl e n d o ur we r e wo n , o f c o ur s e . Mr s . C a r l yl e s a t a s we s e e f r o m th e pi c tur e , i n a f i n e s i l k d r e s s , i n a c h a i r pul l e d up to a bl a zi n g f i r e a n d h a d e ve r yth i n g s e e ml y a n d s o l i d a bo ut h e r ; but a t wh a t c o s t h a d s h e wo n i t! He r c h e e ks a r e h o l l o w; bi tte r n e s s a n d s uf f e r i n g mi n g l e i n th e h a l f -te n d e r , h a l f -to r tur e d e xpr e s s i o n o f th e e ye s . S uc h i s th e e f f e c t o f a pump i n th e ba s e me n t a n d a ye l l o w ti n ba th up th r e e f l i g h ts o f s ta i r s .22 Ja n e C a r l yl e ' s h o l l o w c h e e ks a s k h o w s pl e n d i d o r pe a c e f ul a n y e ve n i n g s c o ul d be th a t f a i l e d to f r e e h e r o f n e xt d a y' s c h o r e : f i l l i n g th a t ti n ba th up th r e e f l i g h ts o f s ta i r s . W o o l f ' s s ympa th y f o r th e mi s tr e s s i s un mi s - ta ka bl e , a s a l s o i s h e r c o n c e r n f o r th e wo r ki n g -c l a s s ma i d be s i d e wh o m s h e to i l e d . T h e s pa ti a l i ma g e r y o f th i s po r tr a i t o f th e C a r l yl e s ' h o us e e xpl i c i tl y c o n n e c ts s e xua l a n d c l a s s o ppr e s s i o n , mi s tr e s s a n d ma i d . Emph a s i zi n g th e a mo un t o f ti me wo me n s pe n d i n ph ys i c a l l a bo r e a c h d a y, i t s ug g e s ts th a t th e f o r ms o f l a bo r , r a th e r th a n h e r f a mi l i a l o r c l a s s ti e s , r e a l l y d e f i n e wo ma n ' s pl a c e i n s o c i e ty. Be c a us e bo th Ja n e W e l s h C a r l yl e a n d th e ma i d a r e r e s po n s i bl e f o r th e h o t wa te r , c l e a n r o o ms , a n d r e g ul a r me a l s wh i c h Mr . C a r l yl e r e qui r e s to wr i te h i s h i s to r y, bo th wo me n a r e a s s o c i a te d wi th th e s a me s pa c e i n th e h o me . W h i l e th e g r e a t ma n f i l l s th e to p f l o o r s , th e wo me n c l us te r i n th e l o we r r e g i o n s : ki tc h e n , wa s h - r o o m, s c ul l e r y, ba s e me n t. T h i s s pa ti a l a n a l ys i s h a s bo th a s o c i o l o g i c a l a n d a ps yc h o s o c i a l d i me n s i o n : jus t a s wo me n ' s d o me s ti c ta s ks ke e p th e m i n th e l o we r r e a c h e s o f th e h o me , s o th e y l i mi t th e m to th e l o we r r e a c h e s o f s o c i e ty. An d th o ug h th e V i c to r i a n h o me , l i ke th e mi n d i t r e pr e s e n te d , wa s s tr e n uo us l y a n d r e pe a te d l y pur i f i e d , i n i ts me ta ph o r i c s pa ti a l r e l a ti o n s i t r e ve a l e d th e r e pr e s s e d r e a l i ty. L e o n o r e Da vi d o f f h a s d e mo n s tr a te d th a t i n th e V i c to r i a n e r a , " [f o r ] mi d d l e -c l a s s c h i l d r e n ... s o c i a l d i vi s i o n s a n d th e i r e r o ti c o ve r to n e s we r e a l s o r e f l e c te d i n a s pa ti a l vi e w o f th e i r wo r l d -a vi e w wh i c h s ta r te d wi th th e i r o wn bo d i e s , e x- te n d e d to th e h o us e s wh e r e th e y l i ve d , a n d e ve n tua l l y to th e i r ... c i ty." 496 V IRG INIA W OOL F' S L ONDON S o , jus t a s mi s tr e s s a n d ma i d a r e l i n ke d to g e th e r i n th e V i c to r i a n ma n ' s mi n d by th e i r mutua l po s s e s s i o n o f th e f r i g h te n i n g f o r c e o f f e ma l e s e xua l i ty, th e y a r e a l s o a s s o c i a te d i n th e s pa c e s o f h o me a n d c i ty, th r o ug h th e i r s h a r e d ph ys i c a l l a bo r .23 In " G r e a t Me n ' s Ho us e s ," W o o l f g ui d e s th e r e a d e r to c o n s i d e r th e va l ue o f a g r e a t ma n ' s l o ve wh i c h f i n d s i ts e l f i mpo te n t a g a i n s t " bug s a n d ti n ba th s a n d pumps i n th e ba s e me n t." Un f o r tun a te l y, s h e wa s n o t ye t r e a d y i n 1932 to s us ta i n th e i mpl i c a ti o n s o f th a t vi s i o n . In s te a d , s h e r e tr e a te d to a c o zy f a ta l i s m f a mi l i a r f r o m th e c o n c l us i o n o f " T h e Do c ks o f L o n d o n ." " But th e n , we r e f l e c t, a s we c r o s s th e wo r n th r e s h o l d , C a r l yl e wi th o ut h o t wa te r l a i d o n wo ul d n o t h a ve be e n C a r l yl e ; a n d Mr s . C a r l yl e wi th o ut bug s to ki l l wo ul d h a ve be e n a d i f f e r e n t wo ma n f r o m th e o n e we kn o w." 24 T h e e c h o o f th a t d i f f e r e n c e r e ma i n s to h a un t th e r e a d e r . In " Po r tr a i t o f a L o n d o n e r ," th e l a s t " L o n d o n S c e n e " e s s a y, W o o l f c o mbi n e s r o l e s wh i c h we r e r i ve n i n " G r e a t Me n ' s Ho us e s ," to c r e a te Mr s . C r o we , th e h o us e ke e pe r /h i s to r i a n . Me d i a ti n g L o n d o n l i f e th r o ug h h e r o wn i d i o s yn c r a ti c pe r s pe c ti ve , Mr s . C r o we g i ve s us a vi e w o f L o n - d o n un l i ke th a t f r o m th e d o c ks , th e Oxf o r d S tr e e t s h o ps , o r th e h o us e s o f g r e a t th i n ke r s . A " c o l l e c to r o f r e l a ti o n s h i ps ," Mr s . C r o we e n g a g e s i n a Di c ke n s i a n o bje c ti f i c a ti o n o f th e pe o pl e a r o un d h e r . " S h e l o o ke d o ut o f pl a c e a mo n g o th e r pe o pl e ' s c h a i r s & ta bl e s ; s h e mus t h a ve h e r o wn c h i n tze s a n d h e r o wn c a bi n e t a n d h e r o wn Mr . G r a h a m un d e r i t to be c o mpl e te l y h e r s e l f ." 25 Ye t o n c e s e c ur e i n h e r f a mi l i a r s ur r o un d i n g s , Mr s . C r o we tur n s to th e te xt o f th e c i ty a r o un d h e r , wh i c h s h e i n te r - pr e ts i n h e r c o n ve r s a ti o n . " Mr s . C r o we by n o me a n s d we l t o n th e pa s t-s h e by n o me a n s e xa l te d i t a bo ve th e pr e s e n t. In d e e d i t wa s a l wa ys th e l a s t pa g e , th e pr e s e n t mo me n t th a t ma tte r e d mo s t. T h e d e l i g h tf ul th i n g a bo ut L o n d o n wa s th a t i t wa s a l wa ys g i vi n g o n e s o me - th i n g n e w to l o o k a t, s o me th i n g f r e s h to ta l k a bo ut....2 S h a r i n g h e r c r e a to r ' s te c h n i que f o r s a f e g ua r d i n g h e r pl a c e i n s o c i e ty wh i l e s ti l l a s s umi n g th e c e n tr a l r o l e o f s pe a ke r , s h e pi tc h e s h e r ta l e to h e r a ud i - e n c e , a vo i d i n g o bvi o us c l e ve r n e s s o r pr o f un d i ty l e s t i t a l i e n a te s o me - o n e , pa r ti c ul a r l y s o me ma n . In s te a d , s h e e n te r ta i n s by r e ta i l i n g wh a t r e s e mbl e s vi l l a g e g o s s i p, th o ug h " [th e ] vi l l a g e wa s L o n d o n , a n d th e g o s s i p wa s a bo ut L o n d o n l i f e ." 27 T h e r e i s a r e a l po we r i n Mr s . C r o we ' s h o me l y c o n ve r s a ti o n , h o w- e ve r . He r g o s s i p c r e a te s a wo r l d a n d s h a pe s i t to h e r n e e d s . " Mr s . C r o we ' s g r e a t g i f t c o n s i s te d i n ma ki n g th e va s t me tr o po l i s s e e m a s s ma l l a s a vi l l a g e wi th o n e c h ur c h , o n e ma n o r h o us e , & twe n ty-f i ve c o t- 497 T W ENT IET H C ENT URY L IT ERAT URE ta g e s ." 28 T h o ug h wi th o ut f o r ma l i n s ti tuti o n a l s a n c ti o n , th e ur ba n h i s - to r y wh i c h s h e c r e a te s a t h e r te a ta bl e pl a ys a c r uc i a l r o l e i n c i ty l i f e : i t ma ke s th e un ma n a g e a bl e a n d c h a o ti c s ud d e n l y c o mpr e h e n s i bl e , i n ti - ma te . T h us , to kn o w L o n d o n n o t me r e l y a s a g o r g e o us s pe c ta c l e , a ma r t, a c o ur t, a h i ve o f i n d us tr y, but a s a pl a c e wh e r e pe o pl e me e t a n d ta l k, l a ug h , ma r r y, a n d d i e , pa i n t, wr i te a n d a c t, r ul e a n d l e g i s l a te , i t wa s n e c e s s a r y to kn o w Mr s . C r o we . It wa s i n h e r d r a wi n g r o o m th a t th e i n n ume r a bl e f r a g me n ts o f th e va s t me - tr o po l i s s e e me d to c o me to g e th e r i n to o n e l i ve l y, c o mpr e h e n s i - bl e , a mus i n g a n d a g r e e a bl e wh o l e . T r a ve l l e r s a bs e n t f o r ye a r s , ba tte r e d a n d s un -d r i e d me n jus t l a n d e d f r o m In d i a o r Af r i c a , f r o m r e mo te tr a ve l s a n d a d ve n tur e s a mo n g s a va g e s a n d ti g e r s , wo ul d c o me s tr a i g h t to th e l i ttl e h o us e i n th e qui e t s tr e e t to be ta ke n ba c k i n to th e h e a r t o f c i vi l i s a ti o n a t o n e s tr i d e .29 Mr s . C r o we n o t o n l y br i n g s L o n d o n ' s r i c h te xtur e i n to f o c us , h uma n - i ze s i t, a n d g i ve s i t a pa s t, but s h e d i s to r ts i t. Re d uc i n g th e va s t me tr o p- o l i s to a f e ud a l vi l l a g e i n h e r g o s s i p, s h e c i vi l i ze s a n d mo r a l i ze s i t a s we l l . S o , to th e c o l o n i a l a d mi n i s tr a to r s wh o tur n f i r s t to Mr s . C r o we ' s d r a wi n g r o o m o n r e tur n i n g f r o m th e i r s a va g e jun g l e s , th e c i ty s e e ms n o t c h a l l e n g i n g a n d d i ve r s e , but " c o mpr e h e n s i bl e , a mus i n g a n d a g r e e - a bl e ." Ur ba n i n te r pr e te r f o r i mpe r i a l i s ts , Mr s . C r o we e mbo d i e s th e i n tr i n s i c c o n s e r va ti s m wh i c h V i r g i n i a W o o l f a t ti me s r e ve a l e d , a n d wi th wh i c h s h e s tr ug g l e d , i n h e r " L o n d o n S c e n e " e s s a ys . S uc h a h o mo g e n e o us , o r d e r e d , a n d r a ti o n a l pe r s pe c ti ve c a n n o t l o n g pr e va i l i n th e mo d e r n c i ty. Pe r h a ps i t i s f o r th i s r e a s o n th a t Mr s . C r o we d i e s a t th e e n d o f " Po r tr a i t o f a L o n d o n e r ." " [Eve n ] L o n d o n i ts e l f c o ul d n o t ke e p Mr s . C r o we a l i ve f o r e ve r . It i s a f a c t th a t o n e d a y Mr s . C r o we wa s n o t s i tti n g i n th e a r m c h a i r by th e f i r e a s th e c l o c k s tr uc k f i ve ; Ma r i a d i d n o t o pe n th e d o o r ; Mr . G r a h a m h a d d e ta c h e d h i ms e l f f r o m th e c a bi n e t. Mr s . C r o we i s d e a d a n d L o n d o n -n o , to s o me pe o pl e L o n d o n wi l l n e ve r be th e s a me c i ty a g a i n ." 30 W i th Mr s . C r o we ' s d e mi s e , L o n d o n s e e ms i r r e pa r a bl y c h a n g e d -to " s o me pe o pl e ." T h e qua l i f yi n g ph r a s e s ug g e s ts th a t wh e n h e r un i f yi n g , s ta bi l i zi n g pe r s pe c ti ve i s g o n e , th e c i ty s pl i n te r s i n to a th o us a n d d i f - f e r e n t vi s ta s . An d wi th th e n e w r e l a ti vi s m i n pe r s pe c ti ve c o me s a c h a n g e i n s o c i a l o r g a n i za ti o n to o . Ra th e r th a n th e s i n g l e , e s ta bl i s h e d h i e r a r c h y o f V i c to r i a n i mpe r i a l L o n d o n , we h a ve a n e w a n d pe r h a ps mo r e e g a l i ta r i a n mo d e r n c i ty. No w Ma r i a s a r e f r e e to f i n d jo bs a s mo r e th a n ma i d s e r va n ts ; n o w Mr . G r a h a ms , wh o h a ve h e l d up th e d r a wi n g - r o o m c a bi n e t f o r a l l th e s e ye a r s th a n ks to th e l e i s ur e pr o vi d e d by 498 V IRG INIA W OOL F' S L ONDON i n h e r i te d we a l th , mus t r e mo ve th e ms e l ve s f r o m th e f ur n i tur e a n d ve n tur e o ut to ma ke a l i vi n g , l i ke o r d i n a r y pe o pl e . Mr s . C r o we ' s d e a th i s a f i tti n g e n d f o r th e " L o n d o n S c e n e " e s s a ys be c a us e , i n a s e n s e , h e r pr e o c c upa ti o n mi r r o r s th a t o f h e r c r e a to r . In th e s e e s s a ys o f 1931 a n d 1932, W o o l f s tr ug g l e d to s ubs ume un d e r o n e vo i c e h e r c o n f l i c ti n g pe r s pe c ti ve s o n l i f e i n L o n d o n . As a r e s ul t, th e br i l l i a n tl y a mus i n g tr a ve l o g ue a ppr o pr i a te to G o o d Ho us e ke e pi n g f r e - que n tl y d r o wn e d o ut bo th r e a l i s ti c po r tr a i t a n d s o c i a l c r i ti c i s m. At th e e n d o f th e " L o n d o n S c e n e " s e r i e s , h o we ve r , th e d e a th o f Mr s . C r o we s ymbo l i ze s W o o l f ' s d e c i s i o n to c e a s e th e a tte mpt to r e c o n c i l e h e r c o n - f l i c ti n g i d e n ti f i c a ti o n s , to d i s g ui s e h e r pe r s pe c ti ve a s a wo ma n a n d a n o uts i d e r un d e r th e s mo o th , un c h a l l e n g i n g vo i c e o f th e i n s i d e r . In th e wo r ks to c o me , pa r ti c ul a r l y i n T h r e e G ui n e a s a n d T h e Ye a r s , h e r po r tr a i t o f th e c i ty wo ul d mo r e a n d mo r e r e f l e c t h e r o wn e xpe r i e n c e a s a wo ma n i n pa tr i a r c h a l s o c i e ty. 1 V i r g i n i a W o o l f ' s e s s a y s e r i e s , " T h e L o n d o n S c e n e ," a ppe a r e d i n th e f o l l o wi n g o r d e r be twe e n 1931 a n d 1932: " T h e Do c ks o f L o n d o n ," G o o d Ho us e - ke e pi n g (De c . 1931), 20: 4, 16-17, 114, 116-17; " Oxf o r d S tr e e t T i d e ," G o o d Ho us e ke e pi n g (Ja n . 1932), 20: 5, 18-19, 120; " G r e a t Me n ' s Ho us e s ," G o o d Ho us e - ke e pi n g (Ma r . 1932), 21: 2, 10-11, 102-03; " Abbe ys a n d C a th e d r a l s ," G o o d Ho us e ke e pi n g (Ma y 1932), 21: 3, 18-19, 102; " ' T h i s i s th e Ho us e o f C o mmo n s ,' " G o o d Ho us e ke e pi n g (Oc t. 1932), 22: 2, 18-19, 110-12; " Po r tr a i t o f a L o n d o n e r ," G o o d Ho us e ke e pi n g (De c . 1932), 22: 4, 28-29, 132. B. J. Ki r kpa tr i c k, A Bi bl i o g r a - ph y o f V i r g i n i a W o o l f (Oxf o r d : C l a r e n d o n Pr e s s , 1980). " Po r tr a i t o f a L o n d o n e r " wa s o r i g i n a l l y e n ti tl e d " A L o n d o n C h a r a c te r ." W i th th e e xc e pti o n o f th a t e s s a y, th e e s s a ys we r e r e i s s ue d a s T h e L o n d o n S c e n e (Ne w Yo r k: Fr a n k Ha l l ma n , 1975) a n d (L o n d o n : Ho g a r th Pr e s s , 1980). Jo h n F. Hul c o o p h a s s ug g e s te d th a t W o o l f ' s " S i x Ar ti c l e s o n L o n d o n L i f e " (th e a l te r n a te ti tl e o f th e " L o n d o n S c e n e " g r o up) " we r e o r i g i n a l l y i n te n d e d to be wr i tte n i n th e f o r m o f ' S i x L e tte r s ,' " o f wh i c h " L e tte r On e ," n o w h e l d i n th e Be r g C o l l e c ti o n o f th e Ne w Yo r k Publ i c L i br a r y, wa s th e f i r s t. Jo h n F. Hul c o o p, No te a ppe n d e d to " L e tte r On e ," V i r g i n i a W o o l f (Ar ti c l e s ), Be r g C o l l e c ti o n o f th e Ne w Yo r k Publ i c L i - br a r y, Ma r c h 8, 1971. 2 Fo r f ur th e r d i s c us s i o n o f W o o l f ' s us e o f th e c i ty to e s ta bl i s h a po s i ti o n f o r h e r s e l f a s a wo ma n wr i te r i n th e l i te r a r y a n d s o c i a l wo r l d o f mo d e r n L o n d o n , s e e S us a n S qui e r , V i r g i n i a W o o l f a n d th e Po l i ti c s o f C i ty S pa c e , Un i ve r s i ty o f No r th C a r o l i n a Pr e s s , f o r th c o mi n g 1985. 3 V i r g i n i a W o o l f , " T h e Po r t o f L o n d o n ," i n S i x Ar ti c l e s o n L o n d o n L i f e : S t. Pa ul ' s , G r e a t Me n ' s Ho us e s , T h e Po r t o f L o n d o n , Abbe ys a n d C a th e d r a l s , S tr e e ts a n d S h o ps , T h e Ho us e o f C o mmo n s , Ho l o g r a ph , un s i g n e d , f i r s t d a te d Ma r c h 13, 1931, i n th e Be r g C o l l e c ti o n o f th e Ne w Yo r k Publ i c L i br a r y. 4 T h e L o n d o n S c e n e , p. 8. 5 V i r g i n i a W o o l f , Mo me n ts o f Be i n g (Ne w Yo r k: Ha r c o ur t, 1976), p. 132. 6 V i r g i n i a W o o l f , T h r e e G ui n e a s (Ne w Yo r k: Ha r c o ur t, 1966), p. 13. 499 T W ENT IET H C ENT URY L IT ERAT URE 7 V i r g i n i a W o o l f , " T h e Po r t o f L o n d o n ," e a r l y h o l o g r a ph d r a f t o f " T h e Do c ks o f L o n d o n ." Ho l o g r a ph , un s i g n e d , f i r s t d a te d Ma r c h 13, 1931, i n th e Be r g C o l l e c ti o n o f th e Ne w Yo r k Publ i c L i br a r y. 8Ja n e Ma r c us , " T h e Ye a r s a s G r e e k Dr a ma , Do me s ti c No ve l , a n d G o tte r - d a mme r un g ," Bul l e ti n o f th e Ne w Yo r k Publ i c L i br a r y, 80, No . 2, p. 301. 9 V i r g i n i a W o o l f , T h e L o n d o n S c e n e , pp. 9-10. 10 bi d ., p. 14. 11 G . Ro be r t S ta n g e , " T h e V i c to r i a n C i ty a n d th e Fr i g h te n e d Po e ts ," V i c to - r i a n S tud i e s (S umme r 1968), V o l . XI S uppl e me n t, p. 629. 12 T h e L o n d o n S c e n e , p. 17. 13 Ibi d . 14 Ibi d ., pp. 19-20. 15 Ibi d ., p. 20. 16 V i r g i n i a W o o l f , " S tr e e t Ha un ti n g ," T h e De a th o f th e Mo th (Ne w Yo r k: Ha r c o ur t, 1970), pp. 20-36. 17 T h e L o n d o n S c e n e , pp. 21-22. 8 Ibi d ., p. 22. 19 T h o ma s C a r l yl e , On He r o e s , He r o -W o r s h i p, a n d th e He r o i c i n Hi s to r y (Ph i l a d e l ph i a : He n r y Al te mus , 1894), pp. 5-6. I a m g r a te f ul to Pr o f e s s o r He l e n C o o pe r f o r po i n ti n g o ut th i s i mpo r ta n t c o n tr a s t be twe e n C a r l yl e ' s vi s i o n a n d W o o l f ' s i n " G r e a t Me n ' s Ho us e s ." 20 T h e L o n d o n S c e n e , p. 24. 21 C a r l yl e , On He r o e s , He r o W o r s h i p, a n d th e He r o i c i n Hi s to r y, p. 206. 22 T h e L o n d o n S c e n e , p. 25. 23 L e o n o r e Da vi d o f f , " C l a s s a n d G e n d e r i n V i c to r i a n En g l a n d : T h e Di a r i e s o f Ar th ur J. Mun by a n d Ha n n a h C ul l wi c k," Fe mi n i s t S tud i e s , V o l . 5, No . 1 (S pr i n g 1979), 97. 24 T h e L o n d o n S c e n e , p. 26. 25 " A L o n d o n C h a r a c te r ," T h e L o n d o n S c e n e , T h e Ne w Yo r k Publ i c L i br a r y, Be r g C o l l e c ti o n . 26 Ibi d . 27 Ibi d . 28 Ibi d . 29 Ibi d . 30 Ibi d . 500