Emily Ganske

History 12
February 13, 2015
I can only note that the past is beautiful because one never
realizes an emotion at the time. It expands later, and thus we don't
have complete emotions about the present, only about the past.
- Virginia Woolf
What does this mean?
As we are consumed with the stresses and occupations of day-to-day life,
it is difficult to recognize what certain circumstances or events mean until
they have passed, allowing one the objectivity necessary to completely
understand their relevance and value. It is much simpler to reflect on
what could have been done differently than to consider all possible
outcomes in the present moment.
About the Speaker
Virginia Woolf was born Adeline Virginia Stephen to Sir Leslie Stephen, a
literary critic, and his second wife Julia Prinsep Jackson Duckworth on January
25, 1882. Virginia and her siblings were educated at home, using resources
from their fathers massive library as well as gaining the insights and
experiences of the many literary and artistic notables of the time who
frequently visited the familys estate. At age thirteen, Woolfs mother died
which initiated the onset of Woolfs depressive-bipolar cycles. Woolf and one
of her sisters Vanessa, as well as their respective husbands, were
participants in the Bloomsbury Group composed of the most influential
scholars, writers, and artists in the 1920s and 30s. Woolf lived through the
First World War and committed suicide on March 28, 1941, part way through
the Second World War. As a British citizen, Woolfs country was a crucial
participant in both wars and thus would have been subjected to the effects
such involvement would have, such as food and resource rationing, civilian
deaths, and the loss of friends and family serving as soldiers. Woolf was also
subjected and had access to the influence and forum of the brightest minds
of her time. These influences would have allowed Woolf the opportunity to
observe and remark upon the interpretation necessities regarding important
events such as those classified under history.
Why this quote?
I was drawn to this quote for its universality. Yes, it is applicable to
history in that time and experience permits better understanding of historical
events, but it can also be applied to other areas. Woolf asserts that by
allowing emotions or observations or experiences to ferment over a
prolonged period of time, they will expand and deepen to encompass not
only the source of their origin, but will also include understandings gained
since the incident first occurred resulting in greater insight. By leaving
emotions, or historical events, dormant until they can be fully explained with
additional context from surrounding sources, one can determine what
happened to let a civil war or a genocide occur.
Events cannot be

Emily Ganske
History 12
February 13, 2015
interpreted in isolation; they must be dealt with once all knowledge pertaining to the issue is
amassed.