Orlando: A Biography: Analysis of Major Characters
"Orlando: A Biography" follows the life of Orlando, an English nobleman from the Elizabethan era, who experiences a remarkable transformation into a woman over the course of centuries. The narrative spans significant historical periods, including the reigns of Elizabeth I, James I, and Charles II, showcasing Orlando’s journey through various pursuits, such as poetry and material wealth. After an unexplained week-long sleep in Constantinople, Orlando awakens as a woman, initiating a new phase of her life filled with exploration of identity and societal roles in the courts of Queen Anne and beyond.
Among the key characters are the Archduchess Harriet of Roumania, who maintains a complex, evolving relationship with Orlando, and Sasha, a captivating Russian princess who briefly captures Orlando's heart but ultimately leaves. Nicholas Greene, a poet, serves as a literary companion during Orlando's youth and later assists her in her literary endeavors in the 1920s. Additionally, Marmaduke Bonthrop Shelmerdine, Orlando's husband in Victorian times, adds another layer to her narrative, depicting the dynamics of love and absence. Through its rich characterizations and historical context, "Orlando" reflects themes of gender, identity, and the passage of time, inviting readers to consider fluidity in personal and cultural narratives.
Orlando: A Biography: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Virginia Woolf
First published: 1928
Genre: Novel
Locale: England
Plot: Phantasmagoric
Time: 1588–1928
Orlando, a young English nobleman of Elizabeth I's reign. He is a descendant of fighting men but is himself a poet. He becomes a courtier, though scarcely growing older, during the times of Elizabeth, James I, and Charles II. Failing to find satisfaction in literature, he turns to materialistic goals, searching all Europe for furnishings to refurbish his great mansion. While serving Charles II as Ambassador Extraordinary at Constantinople, Orlando sleeps an entire week, during which he mysteriously changes into a woman. Although now female and beautiful, Orlando is still a restless soul, searching for satisfaction in the brilliant society of Queen Anne's court and, as well, in the streets and pubs of London. During the Victorian period, Orlando, still a woman, marries and returns to literary pursuits. She comes to think of herself, now a woman of thirty-six during the 1920's, as a symbol of English history.
The Archduchess Harriet of Roumania, a large, ugly woman who falls in love with Orlando and forces her attentions upon him. When Orlando, changed into a woman, returns to England in the eighteenth century, she finds the arch-duchess metamorphosed into Archduke Harry, still in love with Orlando but changed in sex.
Sasha, a Russian princess who comes to England in 1604. She fascinates the youthful Orlando, who falls in love and wants to marry Sasha. The princess, a fickle creature, toys with common sailors and finally deserts Orlando to return home to Russia.
Nicholas Greene, a seventeenth century poet who becomes a pensioner of the youthful Orlando while he is interested in literature. Greene is a man who loves city life; in the 1920's, he turns up again as a successful literary critic and offers to help Orlando to find a publisher for her long poem.
Marmaduke Bonthrop Shelmerdine, Esq., Orlando's Victorian-era husband, who leaves his wife to go to sea. He returns in 1928 aboard an airplane, having become a renowned sea captain during his absence.