To the Lighthouse
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?
Do you agree: "The novel is both the tribute and critique of Mrs. Ramsay"
Considering symbolically, does the Lighthouse stand for Mrs. Ramsay or the narrator (Virginia Woolf herself who is categorically represented by Lily)?
What do you understand by the German term 'Künstlerroman'? How can you justify that 'To The Lighthouse' is 'Künstlerroman' novel? (100 words)
"... 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'. (100 words)
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 power of appeal to words than to the screen?
How do you interpret the last line of the novel
Respected Sir, Here is my interpretations...
1. With biographical context, her writings are to show her capacity against the belief ‘Women can’t write, can’t paint” it can be said that ‘Stream of consciousness’ technique is the only way for her. In ‘To the lighthouse’, complexity in simplicity is the main focus. Virginia describes about psychology of a familiar relationships, human behaviour and thinking, even simple and formal feelings in complex events (Mrs. Ramsay’s death) and internal struggle about everything. She very minutely presents our thinking process without any excessive emotions (like melodrama) in the novel. And these can be described only with this technique.
2. Yes, the novel also criticizes Mrs. Ramsay’s character as the article suggest. Her character is good for all the men as she is sacrificing herself. But for females, her behaviour is not better. Like, her daughters have to suffer (one has to die), as they don’t want to sacrifice their ego and they have their own thinking. But she can live throughout the novel after her death, as her character is tributary, her so much remembrance shows that her character is given much importance. If Virginia wants to criticise her character, she presents her criticism after her death because the family have loss one of their daughter because of her. Even she can present that; even after Mrs. Ramsay’s lifelong services to her family, her family doesn’t remember a woman. The writer puts both the angles (Mrs. Ramsay and Lily) free to interpret as reader’s wish, not having any side.
3. As it is suggested in the presentation, we can interpret that Lighthouse stands for the symbol of Mrs. Ramsay. She always becomes emotional guide for other characters. As Lighthouse is central figure of the novel, she is also in centre and other characters surround her (like James, Mr. Ramsay, Lily’s dilemma about her character…). But, unfortunately, she becomes a wall between her husband and children. And after her death these distances and walls fall down. About narrator, with biographical context, we can say that, Virginia’s character is more presented in Lily’s character and her dilemma is Virginia Woolf’s own mental turmoil or dilemma, and Virginia puts Mrs. Ramsay’s character free to interpret, as we want. (As 2nd answer suggests)
5. “To the Lighthouse’ is many ways a ‘Kunstlerroman’ novel. It means which describes development or a struggle of an artist (as in ‘To the Lighthouse’ Lily’s character and the novel, itself is a struggle of an artist!). It also deals with ‘arrogant rejection of the commonplace life’, in this novel the character of Lily makes it ‘Kunstlerroman’ novel.
6. In brief, as 2nd answer says, it also criticises women, who believed in sacrificing and obedience of patriarchal world, who are ready to be ruled over her by patriarchal beliefs and society. Lily’s dilemma presents this. She has very strong rejection about patriarchal beliefs and throughout the novel; she wants to be equal as men without surrendering herself.
7. First, it’s very complicated to compare this. Because still I haven’t completed the novel! And visualising this novel is also very difficult because the novel is very open and no such emotional melodramatic events. But the novel is effective than movie because of the technique, she used. The flow of writing, description of thinking process and pictorial quality of words make it poignant than film. And movie simplifies it. But the end is effective and more clear, effective than novel.
8. Last line of the novel can be interpreted with two ways. First, ‘it is completed…’ means now, she proved to patriarchal world that, ‘women can paint, women can write’ and second, she completed Mrs. Ramsay’s painting and found her vision means her mental confusion or dilemma about Mrs. Ramsay’s character is clear. With reference to the movie, Lily favours Mrs. Ramsay’s character and she accepted her character with using her thinking like, ‘closed doors, open windows’.
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