Virginia Woolf was an influential writer known for challenging societal norms through her literature in the 20th century. Her works often explored themes of gender, identity, and mental health, particularly in novels like "Mrs. Dalloway" and "To the Lighthouse." Woolf's innovative narrative techniques, including stream-of-consciousness, provided readers with deeper insights into her characters’ inner lives. As a central figure in the Modernist movement, her essays, particularly "A Room of One's Own," argued for women's intellectual and creative freedom, becoming foundational texts in feminist literature.