In the 19th century, Britain built a large number of statues and monuments in public spaces to commemorate politicians, war heroes, etc., forming the era of "statue mania". These statues convey national strength, national ambition, promote specific values, strengthen public identity, beautify colonial history, and uphold imperial rule. Virginia Woolf criticized the proliferation of London sculptures in her works and opposed the excessive use of decorative styles in modern sculptures. American scholar Gillespie has studied the sculpture narrative in Woolf's works and her mockery of the hierarchical system, but has not delved deeply into the social and personal motivations behind her sculpture aesthetic taste, nor has he systematically studied the reflection of the sculpture narrative on issues such as monarchy, colonialism, and political systems in her works in conjunction with historical contexts at that time. Woolf criticized the "statue craze" of the 19th century in her diary, essays, and novels, ridiculed the nationalist and patriotic discourse behind statues, and exposed the true purpose of Britain's construction of statues.

King Statue and Crisis of Royal Rule

In depth exploration of the symbolic significance of the statue of the British king in national and ethnic identity, as well as its role in the crisis of royal rule. Since Charles I, the statues of kings in London have not only concealed the fragmentation and strife of royal power, but also inspired the loyalty of the people. Especially after the death of Queen Victoria, the Queen Victoria Memorial built by the UK to commemorate her strengthened the public's identity through its grand scale and symbolic significance. However, the queen statue on the monument has also been criticized by some artists, accusing its designer of making London ugly.

Soldiers' Statues and Colonial Rule

Explored how 19th century Britain commemorated military heroes in colonial wars by establishing military statues in public spaces, while promoting self-discipline, patriotism, and sacrifice. These statues also subtly instilled these values into the collective memory of the people. The statues of Nelson, General Havlock, and General Gordon on Trafalgar Square are all symbols of British colonial aggression, inspiring the public's recognition of British identity. However, these statues have also been criticized as tools for beautifying colonial history and consolidating ruling order. Woolf, through the perspective of character Peter in "Mrs. Dalloway," demonstrates how statues strengthen national identity while criticizing the male chauvinism and imperialism symbolized by statues. In addition, the chapter also discusses the intensification of centrifugal force in British colonies after World War I and the butter statue of the Prince of Wales at the Empire's Fair. This statue attempts to construct an imagined community between Britain and the Dominion, but Woolf foresaw in "The Thunder at Wembley" that this community would fall apart, reflecting the crisis of British colonial rule.

Politicians' Statues and the Evolution of Political Systems

Through the establishment of statues of politicians in the British Parliament building from the 19th to the 20th century, the connection between political evolution and individual heroism is explored. The article points out that the tradition of sculpture originated in the aristocratic era of the 19th century, to commemorate the achievements of political elites and reflect the recognition of individual power and heroism in society at that time. Woolf criticized this tradition in her diaries and essays, arguing that it was inconsistent with the collectivist values of the democratic era, and that sculptures could not truly reflect the ordinary nature of political figures. She observed the transition of the British Parliament from aristocracy to democracy, such as the passage of the Reform Act of 1832 and the Parliament Act of 1911, which enhanced the influence of the middle class in politics. Woolf also specifically mentioned the inauguration of the first Labour Prime Minister, MacDonald, which marked progress in the democratization of the political system. She advocates that with the end of the era of small independent statues, halls or large buildings symbolizing democratic governance should be built instead of continuing to erect statues for politicians. Woolf's vision for an ideal democratic society was to combine democracy with the noble conduct of the aristocracy, while she held a critical attitude towards the issue of class division and the craze for sculpture in British democratic society at that time. At the end of the article, it is pointed out that there is a gap between Woolf's vision and the reality of Western countries today, and her criticism of sculptures still holds significant importance in contemporary times.