To The Lighthouse- Virginia Woolf

To the Lighthouse (1927)

         Virginia Woolf

                     

Virginia Woolf was known for her experimental writing style-stream of consciousness. This novel remains as her autobiographical novel. This novel covers one family but talks about the general family and that family is Ramsay’s Family.

Character list:

       Mrs. Ramsay

       Mr. Ramsay

       Lily Briscoe

      James Ramsay

       Paul Rayley

      Minta Doyle

     Charles Tansley

     William Bankes

    Augustus Carmichael

    Andrew Ramsay

   Jasper Ramsay

   Roger Ramsay

   Prue Ramsay

   Rose Ramsay

   Nancy Ramsay

   Cam Ramsay

   Mrs. McNab

   Macalister

   Macalister’s boy

To the Lighthouse is divided into three sections:

“The Window”

“Time Passes”

“The Lighthouse”

Each section is fragmented into stream-of-consciousness contributions from various narrators.

Rising- climax-falling actions of this novel:

     The novel surrounded with the life of Mrs. Ramsay and her family. Mrs. Ramsay is traditional woman who believe in life, marriage, formality, etc. Mrs. Ramsay devoted her life to her husband Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Ramsay believes in rationality. Mrs. Ramsay followed the so-called tradition and rules and regulation such as follow the given orders by husband without asking questions, serve to children whatever they need and devoted life to their family. Lily Briscoe doesn’t like to live life like Mrs. Ramsay. Moreover she criticized the life of Mrs. Ramsay. This novel is a tribute and critic of Mrs. Ramsay from the angle of Lily Briscoe.

 According to Lily Mrs. Ramsay doesn’t like to live life how she lives now. Mrs. Ramsay also wants live life individually but she also wants to be remembered by the family after her death also. So, she always in tries to be good in front of her family. This novel studied under the clash between feminine and muscularity. Lily doesn’t like to live life under the patriarchal power. As per this reason she tries to break the mentality of male that uttered by Charles Tansley – “women cannot write and paint”.

   Lily Briscoe feels triumph while Mrs. Ramsay failed in her decision. Mrs. Ramsay interested in match making. Her decision about her daughter totally wrong taken by Mrs. Ramsay at that time Lily feel proud that I am right and you are wrong. There is nothing in the marriage. Even Mrs. Ramsay also wants Lily’s marriage with Mr. Bank but she denied. She wants to live life on her own decision.

This novel considered as a psycho novel. What Mrs. Ramsay wants in her life that only reveal through the narrative style stream of consciousness. Mrs. Ramsay wants to be remembered by her family long time. Whatever she does it is just out of this reason. This matters Lily understand very well. Lily also remembered Mrs. Ramsay through her painting. So, painting remain here as a very good source to remain Mrs. Ramsay as it is. Art always remain as a good preserving thing. 

For example- "The Gracian Urn".

                                              

 At the surface level this noel having only two or three reference of Myth. But at the depth it covers many references of myths.

The themes of the novel are:

1      The transience of life and work

2      Art as a means of preservation

3      The subjective nature of reality

4     The restorative effects of beauty

The symbols of this novel are:

1       The lighthouse

2       Lily’s painting

3       The Ramsay’s house

4       The sea

5       The boar’s skull

6       The fruit basket

7       The refrigerator

Conclusion:

   Thus, we can say that Virginia Woolf having very strong and effective femininity. It is considered as a more autobiographical novel. The family of Mrs. Ramsay remains as a family of Woolf’s own. Lily remains as a Woolf herself.