Thinking activity on Virginia Woolf's "To the Lighthouse"

   "To The Lighthouse"

This blog is a part of my thinking activity given by professor on "To The Lighthouse".Click Here to get the task link.

1)  How can you explain that 'what' Virginia Woolf wanted to say (for example, the complexity of human relationship, the everyday battles that people are at in their relationship with near and dear ones, the struggle of a female artist against the values of middle/upper class society etc) can only be said in the way she has said? 

Stream of Consciousness is generally used to describe the flow of thoughts of mind. Use of the ‘stream of consciousness’ is a best way to bring out psychology and complexity of relation and thoughts which every person have. In the novel each and every event was narrated by multiple angle which helped her to tell her about what is going on in the various minds.

 In a term of narration, in this novel Verginia Woolf used a specific form of the stream of consciousness technique which is called as “indirect interior monologue”. It means that we are inside the consciousness of one character speaking to herself, thinking or remembering some past experience. The novel is written in third person, implying omniscient narrator. It is the only way to present two currents of thoughts which are flowing together. Every character in the novel is presented with his/her own conscious as well as through the consciousness of others. For instance, we come across the character of Mrs.Ramsay through his own consciousness as well as through the consciousness of her child James, Mr.Ramsay and Lily Briscoe. Though the reading of the novel is become quite boring at some part because it does not have that flow, narration is oftenly changing from one’s mind to another’s mind. Unlike the modern psychological novel the readers are placed within the mind of the reader but the central intelligence of the novelist is constantly busy in organizing the material and illuminating it by frequent comments as she wants to discover the real life of people.

  2)   Do you agree: "The novel is both the tribute and critique of Mrs. Ramsay"? (Key: Take some clues from the painting of Mrs Ramsay drawn by Lily Briscoe and the article by Andre Viola and Glenn Pedersen. Can we read Mrs. R in context of the idea of Ideal Indian Woman - Karyeshu dasi, Karaneshu manthri; Bhojeshu mata, Shayaneshu rambha; Kshamayeshu dharithri, Roopeshu lakshmi; Satkarma yukta, Kuladharma pathni. )

Yes, I am agree with this point that, the novel is both the tribute and critique of Mrs.Ramsay.

Idealization of Mrs.Ramsay 

The idea of  ideal women is presented by Mrs.Ramsay who is always busy in serving her family guest or even more important is that throughout the novel we can see her as an ideal wife also.Mr.Ramsay’s male ego has been pampered by Mrs. Ramsay. Besides this she is a good mother also who always takes care of her child. These are the characteristics of an ideal women which the women supposed to be an Victorian society. Even after her death, she alives in the memory of everyone. Even Lily Briscoe gets her vision to complete the painting only because of Mrs. Ramsay. In this way it is a tribute to Mrs.Ramsay.

Virginia Woolf herself rebel during his age. If she is praising ideal qualities of Mrs.Ramsay, surely  it is also a critique of Mrs.Ramsay or of that ideal stereotype of Victorian women.

Critique of Mrs.Ramsay

Virginia Woolf’s novel is full of symbolism in which through the character of  Mrs.Ramsay; in a way by presenting her as an ideal woman(woman supposed to be in her time) or by praising her Virginia Woolf makes critique on the role of woman. By putting a Lily Briscoe as an opposed character of Mrs.Ramsay, Verginia Woolf may be tried to highlight her own rebellious nature. Lily Briscoe lives happily in company of her own art. While the Mrs.Ramsay is always busy in taking care of her family; she has not even time to think for her own self. Lily Briscoe’s painting on Mrs.Ramsay also symbolizes the struggle of women in Victorian Society.

  3)    Considering symbolically, does the Lighthouse stand for Mrs. Ramsay or the narrator (Virginia Woolf herself who is categorically represented by Lily)? 

As per my point of view, Lighthouse is symbolically stands for Mrs.Ramsay as well as for the narrator also. While they are living in the summerhouse we can clearly observe Mrs.Ramsay as she is the heart and soul of the house who shines like lighthouse as well. She is a mother of eight children but still she has that great physical charm and is admired by male and female of her friend circle. She is not that much young but her spirit shines like a Lighthouse. Symbol of Lighthouse also stood for Lilly Briscoe who represents Virginia Woolf. Lighthouse is a quest for values; Lily Briscoe – a woman artist is searching his values in Victorian age. She faces all the problmes alone as well as she also guides the daughters of Mrs. Ramsay to walk on their path. Being a single woman to live and face Victorian society is not at all easier task.

    4)   In the article by Joseph Blotner, two myths are patterned together. Name the myths? How they are zeroed down to the symbols of 'Window' and 'Lighthouse'? How does the male phallic symbol represent feminine Mrs. Ramsay? (Key: The strokes of light-beams. . . )

“Mythic Pattern in to the Lighthouse” is a worth reading article by Joseph Blonter, in which reffered to the two Greek myth in order to bring out the fertility of women or idea of women as a life giver as well as from this point of view Mrs.Ramsay remains as a centre of the novel.

Myth of Rhea and Demeter

The very first myth is of Greek goddess Rhea and Demeter. Mrs.Ramsay is compared with both mythical character. In reference to mythical story Rhea’s husband killed all her children but she succeeded in saving a child name Zeus. Here in the novel Mrs.Ramsay is also doing the same, she treats a James in a very sense which creates a anger in his little mind against his father. After that, she also behaves as some what, she does not know anything and tries to protect her child from Mr.Ramsay’s anger. Secondly, Mrs. Ramsay is also compared with Demeter, a daughter of Rhea and goddess of corn and fertility.There is myth that when Demeter is in sorrow entire earth becomes barren and she is worshiped by in a larger noumber of man than women. Same idea is reflected in the novel also. Mrs. Ramsay’s role during summer vacation is seems quite near to this idea. In summer house Mr.Ramsay and James are well treated by Mrs.Ramsay.  She is always there for Mr.Ramsay to symphathize her. She plays a role of back bone for them. In a way, everyman is needed her help either in a one or in another way. 

Oedipus myth

The second myth is about Oedipus who killed his father and married with her own mother. This kind of disorder is known as Oedipus complex. In the novel, relation of Mrs.Ramsay between her younger son James stands for it. Though the James is child, his hatred towards his father and love for his mother can be clearly observed.

“The Window” symbolized female while “The Lighthouse” symbolized  the male. By presenting this Verginia Woolf presented female as loving and life giver, on the other side male has shown as something who have hatred, fatal and violence. That idea of fertility  of women or the quality of giving birth by female figure seems to have emphasized over male figure.

 5)   What do you understand by the German term 'Künstlerroman'? How can you justify that 'To The Lighthouse' is 'Künstlerroman' novel? 

Kunstlerroman

'Künstlerroman is a Geraman term, basically it means “artist novel”  which refers to artist’s growth of maturity in novel. This novel is considered as Kunstkeroman novel as it depicts the artist’s growth of maturity in novel. 

Growth of artist: Lily Briscoe and Augustus Carmichael

Basically through this term growth of artist is depicted as painter or poet. In the novel we have two artists: Lily Briscoe; a painter and Augustus Carmichael as a poet.The journey of both artists begins with a struggle and at the end they succeeded  in what they want to do.  Ultimately their struggle for one thought or feeling lead them towards the new creation. Both the artists find their own vision and creation in art.Augustus Carmichael has his own collection of poems.While at the end of novel,  Lily Briscoe finds her vision in painting. This growth of maturity can be observed very well through the character of Lily Briscoe. At the begining of the novel she is not able to give a final touch of her painting in which she was portraying Mrs.Ramsay and her son James. But at the end her maturity allows her to give that final touch to the painting.

 6)  "... the wages of obedience is death, and the daughter that reproduces mothering to perfection, including child-bearing, already has on her cheeks the pallor of death. One reminded here of various texts by Lucy Irigaray, in which she attacks mothers for being, however unwillingly, accomplices in the patriarchal system of oppression." (Viola). In light of this remark, explain briefly Lily's dilemma in 'To The Lighthouse'. 

In the novel, Mrs.Ramsay's daughters are presented as sporting with infidel ideas; there is also mute question in their mind about difference and chivalry, they are also credited with "Manliness in their girlish hearts". This line of the question presentes the dilemma of Lily Briscoe because of patriarchy. Lily Briscoe is entirely opposed character of Mrs.Ramsay. Mrs.Ramsay who is the preserver of the patriarchal idea as well as she also wants her daughter to  do the same. While Lily Briscoe is happy in being a single woman; she has not that desire of married life.When she was proposed by Mr.Bank; she denied him also. These presented lines depicts that, by following the order of Mrs.Ramsay; her daughter Prue dies during child birth. This idea of perfect ideal women  is given by Mrs.Ramsay to her daughter; this idea or process of making her daughter so perfect leads her daughter to the death. 

 7)  You have compared the 'beginning' and the 'ending' of the novel and the film adaptation of the novel directed by Colin Gregg (you can see it again in the embedded video below this). Do you think that the novel is more poignant than the movie? If yes, do you ascribe the fact that the power of words is much greater than that of the screen / visuals?

Beginning and the ending of the novel and movie is quite different. Without knowing the background of the novel, we can’t able to understand the movie version of this novel. Written words of the novel makes a more senses rather than to visualization of movie.In the novel technique of stream of consciousness is well described; this features seems as a missing in the movie. In the end of the novel, Lily Briscoe put her brush in extreme fatigue but she stays with her art while in the movie she runs into the house by remembering  Mrs.Ramsay’s words. Which gives an impact that she does not care about her painting or she does not have a value of her own art.

8)  How do you interpret the last line of the novel with reference to the ending of the film.

  It was done; it was finished.

      Yes, she thought, laying down her brush in extreme fatigue,
      I have had my vision.

The novel ends with; Lily Briscoe’s sentence, “I have had my vision”. As the novel is known as Künstlerroman novel, it presents the artistic growth of the artist. Same happen with Lily Briscoe. At the end of the novel Lily finds her own vision; she gets the answer of all questions. She has that realization of what she actually wants to be since the begining of the novel. She realizes that, she does not want to be like Mrs.Ramsay rather she chooses to be and lives with her paintings.

After the final stroke on the canvass with finishing touch, Lily walks inside the house. As she goes ante-chamber, the light and dark shade makes his face play hide-and-seek. She climbs stairs, puts her brush aside, walks through the dark and light to enter her room. Gently closes the door - speaks: "Closed doors, open windows" - lies on the bed and with some sort of satisfaction utters: "Dearest Briscoe, you are a fool".

    In the ending scene of movie, Lily is described as being a "fool". Before the final stroke in the film, Lily Briscoe observed that Mrs.Ramsay and James were wondering in the garden. May be this is the scene which brings changes in Lily's thought.  Finally she realizes that she herself is fool who does not think to be like Mrs.Ramsay. Mrs.Ramsay forgot her own values and never think about her own self. Lily is an independent free women but still she is not happy as Mrs.Ramsay. There is something which is missing what he realizes at the end of the movie by completing painting. At the end may be she wanted to be and live a life like Mrs.Ramsay.

   9)  What does the catalogue named as 'Army and Navy' signify? What does cutting of 'Refrigerator'  signify?

In the novel Jaemes was cutting the picture from the illustrated  catalogue of the Army and Navy.  Ass the title of the catalogue itself has significance which stands for  war and consumerism. It is connected with the idea of modernism as well as with the nature of Mrs.Ramsay. Refrigerator is a tool of technology which preserved the good as it is for longer time. But it controls that nature process of food, the same way Mrs. Ramsay is a preserver of the culture. Who does not allow her daughters to live with Lily Briscoe’s modern idea rather makes them to live with so called  old stereotype of society.

   10)  Why did Virginia give such prominence to the tale of the “Fisherman’s Wife”? In particular, why did she weave such a misogynist tale into the fabric of a book which so eloquently challenges received patriarchal notions about the roles and capabilities of women? 

By giving a such prominence to the tale of the “Fisherman’s wife”, she is trying to criticize that patriarchal idea of society. In the tale of the Fisherman’s wife; the wife of fisherman is always demanding something with her husband. In a way it is a portrayal of self less women. Through this tale Verginia Woolf throws a light on patriarchal idea, in which every women should have to be an ideal as Mrs. Ramsay. If she is demanding for something, she should not get that respect in society which one ideal women should get.

1 11)  How is India represented in 'To The Lighthouse'?

In the novel there are several reference to India and some are also reflected through Carmichael. But is can be observed that Virginia Woolf considered Indian in more spiritual power rather than an economical one. In the novel India is presented as alien country, they do not know anything about India.In the novel a line suggests that India is known for Opal necklace, which presents the wealth or richness of India.

12) Write summaries of these articles:

        1) Mythical Patterns in "To The Lighthouse" by Joseph L.Blother
  

          It is a worth reading article by Joseph L.Blother.Mythical pattern help us to  understand the novel which unfolds the various aspect of Mrs.Ramsay. In this article through the concept of mythical pattern Mrs.Ramsay remains at the centre of the novel. It depicts Mrs.Ramsay as an ideal woman. For the interpretation of the novel he used Greek myths of Gaia and Uranus as well as of myth of Demeter and Porsphone  is used as mother goddess of fertility and reproduction.The myth of Oedipus and Kore are used in supporting the argument of James hatred towards his father and love for his mother which feelings are intensified because of his unconsciousness knowledge of the sexual relation between his parents.The Oedipus myth is consonant with the Persephone myth in its application to To The Lighthouse and both are reflections of fundamental patterns of human experience.If we look at the architectural reading of the novel,the symbol of "The Window"  is connected with the idea of life giver whereas symbol of "The Lighthouse" is connected with the idea of life taker. At the end of the article, it is stated that Mrs.Ramsay should be the centre of the novel as she gives love,stability and fruitfulness to her family and those in her orbit, so the female force should always function.

        2) Fluidity vs Masculinity: Lily's Dilemma in Woolf's To The Lighthouse by Andre Viola

This article showcases the Lily's Dilemma. The first article tries to bring Mrs.Ramsay at the centre of the novel while in this Lily Briscoe remains at the central character. Being a practically an orphan girl;she functions as an adopted but marginalized daughter. her fight against patriarchy and its ministering figure of the "Angle in the House" will be long and full off pitfalls. Mainly this article highlights that dilemma of rationality and patriarchal idea of obedience. Mrs Ramsay's daughters always walk on the path of her mother which ultimately leads her daughter Prue to the death. Furthermore, the novel is considered as kunstlerroman novel which depicts the artistic growth of Lily Briscoe. These arguments of the article proves that Lily should be the centre of the novel. 


   3) Vision in To The Lighthouse by Glenn Pedersen 
  
 "Some one had blundered" , it is a very first line of the article.Lily's vision has revealed the resolution of conflicts. Mrs.Ramsay herself is guilty because of her selfhood. She used to think that she is the one who always tries to extend relation between father and children; but it doesn't. At last she realized that a matriarch encouraging oedipus complex in her son and he started to hate her father. James 's negative views about his father some how changed after the death of Mrs.Ramsay. Mrs.Ramsay herself becomes an obstacle in family integration. After the death of her, Lily finds her vision as well as James's desire to go to The Lighthouse is fulfilled by his father.