New Historicism and Virginia Woolf: The Erasure of Queer Identities from History

by

by : 
Eloise D.

Summary

The absence of acknowledgment of LGBTQ individuals in history, particularly in textbooks, perpetuates the erasure of queer voices and contributes to societal misconceptions. The root causes and contemporary implications of this censorship, considering factors such as societal stigma, biases, and language use, are investigated. Drawing on New Historicism, existing literature, letters, and critiques are analyzed to uncover the perspectives of Woolf and Sackville-West, seeking to understand the dynamics of their relationship and its historical interpretation. The paper also addresses social justice issues tied to queer erasure, exploring potential solutions like increased representation and a more nuanced vocabulary in historical analysis. Through qualitative methods, including reading and coding texts, insights into the complex interplay of queer identity, history, and societal perceptions are aimed to be provided.