Kew Gardens

Question

by Virginia Wolff

The elder man had a curiously uneven and shaky method of walking, jerking his hand forward and throwing up his head abruptly, rather in the manner of an impatient carriage horse tired of waiting outside a house; but in the man these gestures were irresolute and pointless. He talked almost incessantly; he smiled to himself and again began to talk, as if the smile had been an answer. He was talking about spirits—the spirits of the dead, who, according to him, were even now telling him all sorts of odd things about their experiences in Heaven.

“Heaven was known to the ancients as Thessaly, William, and now, with this war, the spirit matter is rolling between the hills like thunder."

"Kew Gardens" by Virginia Woolf

Answer 1

"Kew Gardens" by Virginia Woolf is a short story that unfolds through a series of vivid impressions and interactions among various characters in the lush setting of the Kew Gardens. The story captures the complexities of human relationships and the fleeting nature of life, interspersed with reflections on memory, time, and the natural world.

The elder man you mention, with his unsteady gait and vague gestures, serves as a representation of a person caught in the grip of memories and thoughts that are both personal and universal. His musings about spirits, particularly his claim that they are conveying messages about their experiences in Heaven, reflect a need for connection and understanding beyond the physical world.

Woolf's writing often intertwines the inner lives of her characters with their external surroundings, and "Kew Gardens" is no exception. The garden itself is not just a backdrop but also a living entity that interacts with the characters' experiences, evoking a sense of beauty and transience.

As readers, we can perceive the layers of thought—the mingling of the mundane with the profound, the intimate conversations between characters, and the more abstract reflections on existence. The conversation about Heaven being known as Thessaly and the "spirit matter" rolling like thunder suggests the weight of history and the ongoing reverberation of human emotions through time.

Woolf's exploration of these themes often leaves an impression of both chaos and harmony, as we see various lives intersect, stray thoughts forming a tapestry of human experience. "Kew Gardens" invites readers to meditate on their own perceptions of nature, memory, and the invisible ties that connect us all.