Virginia Woolf's Ethos

In the essay, “The Death of the Moth,” author Virginia Woolf describes a detailed transition from abundant life to tranquil death. On the outside, one would be forgiven for not caring about the demise of a mere insect. The numerous distractions of everyday life seem to exceed the importance of a lady watching a bug pass away. In fact, these criticisms would certainly be valid for most articles on this topic. However, Woolf uses a complex vocabulary and detailed descriptions to add interest and intrigue to the process of death. Also, she desired to alter the mindset of her readers on this issue. After inspecting its contents, the reader clearly sees she accomplished this goal with key words, ethos, and smooth transitions. Although the plot …show more content…
For example, she describes the dew on the grass as, “… pressed flat and gleamed (sic) with moisture” (Woolf). She also uses words that modern-day readers struggle to recognize, such as “clamour,” “vociferation,” and “benignant.” However, for viewers of her time, the choice of words not only was normal but also demonstrated that Woolf had at least a slight education and formal instruction. Furthermore, Woolf demonstrates ethos by accurately foreshadowing the death of the insect: “…It came over me that the failure and awkwardness were the approach of death” (Woolf). By stating this, she proves that she understands exactly what she is describing and can analyze evidence to arrive at the correct …show more content…
The phrase, “The moth… now lay most decently and uncomplainingly composed,” emphasizes the futility of attempting to resist death. Eventually, everyone will experience it regardless of choice. She finishes the essay with the line: “O yes, he seemed to say, death is stronger than I am” (Woolf). Although some people believe the dead are exterminated forever, others reason that, perhaps, death provides eternal peace to its victims. Woolf appears to agree with the latter. By explaining the entire process of dying, the author delivers on a hidden point that stands for a moral of the story: both life and death are perfectly natural. Whether one experiences it unexpectedly or expires due to old age, death remains a necessary tool for the cycle of life. Thus, Woolf implies that one should enjoy every aspect of life, including the mundane. Because death cannot be avoided, one must strive to fully live before it is too late. After a complete inspection of “The Death of the Moth,” one sees the phenomenal job Woolf did with her phrases, expertise, and connections. These skills testify to the reader that Woolf accomplished her purpose of writing this essay. By giving the proper perspective of life and death, she convinces the reader to search, think, and wonder about the answers to unsolvable questions. After creating a work that perplexes both the casual