ORLANDO, VIRGINIA WO-OLF
OVERVIEW OF THE PLOT
The story of Orlando spans over 300 years (1588–1928). During this time, Orlando ages only
thirty-six years, and changes gender from a man to a woman.
This story opens with the protagonist, Orlando, a young noble boy. He is too young to fight, but he
longs to go on adventures around the world like his family.
Queen Elizabeth is impressed by his youth and innocence. Two years later, she sends for him to
come to her court. There, she makes him Steward, Treasurer, and her lover, giving him all the wealth
and status he could want.
For a while, Orlando takes to spending time with people of a "low kind." He frequents pubs and has
his way with many young women. When he grows tired of this lifestyle, he heads back to the Court,
this time under King James I (Queen Elizabeth has died). He dates many pretty and wealthy women,
and becomes engaged to Euphrosyne, a woman of incredibly high birth and connections.
But he is incredibly attracted to it. It turns out to be the Russian princess, Sasha. Because Orlando
speaks fluent French, he is the only one who can converse with her. They grow very close, become
lovers, and plan to run away together but Orlando waits for Sasha and she never arrives.
He decides to leave England.
King Charles II sends Orlando to Constantinople as an ambassador. There, he does such a good job
that King Charles makes him a duke.
Orlando decides to leave them and sail back to England.
On the ship voyage back to England, Orlando becomes romantic with the ship's Captain, Nicholas.
Finally she feels what it is like to be a woman, and she cannot decide which gender she enjoys more.
But she soon tires of them too, and begins spending time with some London prostitutes, whose
stories she finds entertaining. ( wchich is not shown in the movie)
The eighteenth century is over and the nineteenth century has begun.
Orlando finally finishes the manuscript of her poem, "the Oak Tree," and she travels to London.
There she meets Nick Greene, who is now the most eminent Victorian literary critic. He reads her
poem and is very impressed by it; he promises to have it published with excellent reviews. It is now
1901, and as King Edward VII succeeds Queen Victoria on the throne.
Orlando has been struck by the present; she is thirty-six.
She calls for the one that is the real Orlando, and then realizes that it is all of them.
MAIN IDEAS
DEATH, LOVE, POLITICS, SOCIETY AND BIRTH
