rself. Her father's death did not solely influence her suicide, but her identification with him was so strong that he was "instrumental in her choice of death" (Bond 62). While Virginia Woolf's parents contributed greatly to her unstable life, her husband, Leonard, took on the responsibility of keeping her temporarily together. Leonard's role as Virginia's husband is a complicated one. He not only helped her through he manic-depressive episodes, but also worked to maintain her self-esteem. Because of Virginia's mental state the marriage between the two endured many conflicts. Shortly after they were married, Virginia became ill, suffered numerous breakdowns, and attempted suicide. Their marriage resembled that of Virginia's parents, in that both marriages "were based on supposed evidence of superiority-inferiority" (Bond 96). Virginia had trouble in expressing her anger, and because of this she took revenge out on Leonard. She not only refused to have sex with him, but she also psychologically abused him. Exhibited in Virginias' literary work Mrs. Dalloway. Virginia, "like her 'chaste' heroine, Mrs. Dalloway, needed to refrain from sex with her husband in order to maintain her separateness" (Bond 96). Despite all of the turmoil, their marriage survived. The marriage became necessary for Virginia's mental survival as well as the survival of her writing career, which Leonard was an asset to. He kept Virginia focused on her writing, and kept her sane for extended periods of time. He "experienced vicarious gratification from Virginia's writing" (Bond 96). When Leonard criticized Virginia's writing, as with her mother, she fell back into depression and psychosis. Virginia's inability to function with out Leonard's support ultimately contributed to her suicide.Despite Virginia's marriage to Leonard he was not her true love. The love of Virginia's life, Vita Sackville, and Virginia met while Virginia was in her forties. ...
