There are two women from the near and distant past who have become strong female role models in recent years: Queen Elizabeth I and Virginia Woolf. These women were not without their problems growing up, however. Elizabeth's mother was beheaded after being accused of treason when she was just three years old; she grew up viewing women as indispensable after her father had six wives; her family continued to die (mother, stepmother, father, half-brother, sister) and she was locked up by her sister Queen Mary in the Tower of London for several years. Virginia Woolf, on the other hand, struggled throughout her life with depression and mental illness, was denied a typical education because she was a woman, suffered numerous mental breakdowns after her mother's death, and was interned after the death of her father. Elizabeth Tudor and Virginia Stephen-Woolf shared many of the same family issues during their lives, but their life paths and careers were radically different from each other. Virginia Woolf and Elizabeth I had many of the same issues within their families. Before Elizabeth Tudor became Queen of England, a series of unfortunate family events befell her. First, when she was just three years old, her mother Anne Boleyn was wrongly beheaded for treason by her husband, King Henry VIII. After this, King Henry remarried several times and eventually settled down with Catherine Parr. Henry's third wife also bore him a son named Edward. After Elizabeth's father died in 1547, Catherine became Queen of England. Shortly after Henry, Catherine died, passing the throne to Elizabeth's half-brother Edward. Edward died in 1553 at the age of fifteen, leaving the crown to his half-sister Mary Tudor. Five years later, Mary died and Elizab... middle of paper ...... was considered a stubborn and opinionated person; while Virginia is cited as always needing confirmation and approval in her actions. Although they are very similar, their differences set them apart as individuals. It is evident that the similarities between Queen Elizabeth I and Virginia Woolf outweigh the differences. Both were learners and thinkers, defenders of their beliefs and strong women despite all the problems that arose in their short lives. It is important to recognize the similarities between these women, as the traits of courage, perseverance, and wisdom are what make them brilliant role models for people throughout time. By highlighting the similarities and differences between these two women, it is easy to see examples of what modern-day people should follow: standing up for what one believes in and triumphing over life's dilemmas...