Orlando's amorous inclinations, by Virginia Woolf: a study on androgyny and transvestility

Abstract

This paper will analyze Orlando: a biography (1928), written by Virginia Woolf, through concepts as androgyny and travestility. We will navigate by some of the Orlando's loves and we will weave considerations about the amorous relations (consummate or not) of the novel's protagonist, or in other words, we will consider the Orlando's approaches with Sasha, russian princess, and Marmaduke Shelmerdine, navigator, by the interpretative key of the androgyny, especially considered from classical studies, mainly from "Symposium", by Plato. At other moment, considering the travestility aspect, we will consider the Orlando's affinities and dislikes with the Archduke/Archduchess Harry/Harriet, with Rosina Pepita, egyptian, and with Nell, prostitute in a vulnerable social condition. We will study one of the most famous Virginia Woolf's works studying brazilian translators and researchers who commentated the novel, for example, Tomaz Tadeu, Silviano Santiago, Fabiana Assis and Carla Garcia. In the last topic, we will consider as the literature, and this novel particularly, makes emerge issues in anthropological level, in other words, as a matter for culture, gender and sexualities.