Thinking activity : To the Lighthouse
Born on January 25, 1882, Adeline Virginia Stephen was raised in a remarkable household. Her father, Sir Leslie Stephen, was a historian and author, as well as one of the most prominent figures in the golden age of mountaineering. Woolf’s mother, Julia Prinsep Stephen (née Jackson), had been born in India and later served as a model for several Pre-Raphaelite painters. She was also a nurse and wrote a book on the profession. Both of her parents had been married and widowed before marrying each other. Woolf had three full siblings — Thoby, Vanessa and Adrian — and four half-siblings — Laura Makepeace Stephen and George, Gerald and Stella Duckworth. The eight children lived under one roof at 22 Hyde Park Gate, Kensington. Several years before marrying Leonard, Virginia had begun working on her first novel. The original title was Melymbrosia. After nine years and innumerable drafts, it was released in 1915 as The Voyage Out. Woolf used the book to experiment with several literary tools, including compelling and unusual narrative perspectives, dream-states and free association prose. Two years later, the Woolfs bought a used printing press and established Hogarth Press, their own publishing house operated out of their home, Hogarth House. Virginia and Leonard published some of their writing, as well as the work of Sigmund Freud, Katharine Mansfield and T.S. Eliot.
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? (Key: The 'How' of the narrative technique is to be discussed along with features of stream of consciousness technique which helps Woolf to put in effective manner what she experienced in abstraction.)
Yes, very appropriately Woolf used complexity in human relationships like Mr. Ramsay and Mrs. Ramsay. In this relationship we saw the complexity between them. Character of Mrs. Ramsay in that we saw the struggle of the female artists. Mrs.Rmasay do all the work of house but Mr. Ramsay never give credit her. He always point out some things in her work. We see in the dinner scene in food the salt is less that time Mr. Ramsay threw the dish and shouted on her. Many other time Mr. Ramsay do this thing type of things. So we saw this type of the complexity in their rrelationship.
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, we can say that the novel is both the tribute and critique of Mrs. Ramsay, we see the character of Mrs. Ramsay's from begging of the novel to end of the novel. We can say that the novel is tribute of Mrs. Ramsay. She is "Stewardess" she is honest and the beautiful woman. She take care of the house, her children, her husband and the gguests or other family members. she arrange her house wonderfully. The house example is "The Summer House" she organize all the the Things amazingly. As par Indian culture and the Sanskrit shlok we see all the qualities in Mrs. Ramsay. As a critique Mrs. Ramsay, she don't like the that Lily Briscoe do a painting. She don't want to she draws a picture. Lily's painting complete after the Mrs. Ramsa's Death. Mrs. Ramsay never do those things that she like to do. Her full life she spent on his family. That's why she never do and live her dream.
3] Considering symbolically, does the Lighthouse stand for Mrs. Ramsay or the narrator (Virginia Woolf herself who is categorically represented by Lily)? (Key: Take help from the presentation on Symbolism to connect Mrs. Caroline Ramsay with Lighthouse. Secondly, the narrator/author cannot fully disappear from the novel and thus the stoicism of Lily to paint and thus prove that she can paint is symbolically presented in stoicism of Lighthouse. Read 'lighthouse' symbol from presentation slide with this insight to connect lighthouse with the narrator. Give your concluding remarks in the comment below in this blog )
We explain the symbols of lighthouse with Mrs. Ramsay. She is the cecentral character of the novel. Lighthouse guide a ship at a sea. Like that Mrs. Ramsay guide her family. Lighthouse is symbol of the one strong pillar like that Mrs. Ramsay pillar of the family. She is strong person in family who tied up the family and live together in the house. In the novel the character Lily reflects some of the point the author Virginia Woolf. Like Lily Virginia Woolf she don't want to do marriage. She wants to life live as a single n live a dream.
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. . . )
In this novel we saw the myth of Oedipus.it is see In character of Mr. Ramsay and James. James hhate his father because he don't want to his mother love for his father. Second is the Mrs. Ramsay and her daughter. She saw that Mrs. Ramsay how she pampare James she look all this behind the tree. Second myth is pagan it was in character of Mrs. Ramsay. In myth of pagan Rhea, Demeter and Persephone They all are reflects in the character of Mrs. Ramsay.
5] What do you understand by the German term 'Künstlerroman'? How can you justify that 'To The Lighthouse' is 'Künstlerroman' novel? (Key: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/325047/Kunstlerroman)
Kunstlerroman means, "artist's novel" in English, is a narrative about an artist's growth to maturity". In this novel the character of Lily is Reflect this thing. Lily's character is also a struggle with the life and the society. Lily is a single she don't want to do marriage. She is a painter. But the another character of this novel Mrs. Ramsay don't like that she do a painting. In the Nobel's third part she complet her drawing. Another character is Augustus Carmichael He is a poet. He also struggle as a poet. In the end he became a successful and famous in their society. This both character Lily and Carmichael successful in their work in end of the novel.
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'.
Throughout the novel we see a Lily's character she was wander alone.she face many people who are never stand with her and also criticized her. Mrs. Ramsay don't like her because she Do a painting and don't want to do marriage . Lily don't want to marriage because she saw a Mrs. Ramsay and take decision to never do a marriage. She believes in that if she do marriage she can't live life as par her rules she has no need to support of man.
7) You have compared the beginning and the ending of the novel and the film adaptation of the novel directed by Colin Gregg. 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 power of words is much greater than that of the screen/visuals?
In opening the movie and novel both different. The novel start with the conversation between Mrs. Ramsay as James and movie start the outdoor scene and the scene it was the coast scene. It was not in the novel saw the opening of the movie and novel both are different.
8] How do you interpret the last line of the novel (It was done; it was finished.
Yes, she thought, laying down her brush in extreme fatigue, I have had my vision.) with reference to the ending of the film (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".)
Last line of the novel, " it was done; it was finished". This line give a two interpretation. First is in the end James dream come true. They all are reached the lighthouse. From the childhood James wants to go the lightlighthouse it was become a true IIn the end. This thing start with the novel and; end with the novel. Second is James wants to his father Mr. Ramsay ppraise him. He wants to Mr. Ramsay encourage him. But he never do this thing he always shouted on the James. But in the end finally Mr. Ramsay praise his work. In the end Mr. Ramsay praise him and that Time Lily give smile him and try to said this, at last in the eend he got the thing which he wants from the childhood. So the line, "It was done; it was finished" Give to interpretation.
9] What does the catalog named as 'Army and Navy' signify? What does the cutting of 'Refrigerator' signify?
Army and navy signify the war. And refrigerator is also a symbol of change, of technology changing and and presumably improving human culture. James is guided in his choice by Mrs. Ramsay and it should, therefore, be associated with her role as preserver and shaper of culture.
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?
The character of fisherman's wife and Mrs. Ramsay both aare connected with each other. Virginia Woolf use of the fairytale sseems to be ironic. She is subverting misogyny of the fairytale.
11] How is India represented in 'To The Lighthouse'? (Read this blog for passing reference)
The character of Mrs. Ramsay is represent the India. She is a like a typical Indian house wife she do all the housework and pampered her children and husband's ego and the family. Second is she would like to wear a jewelry like Indian woman. In one scene she wear a chain and she become a very happy. Like 'Bhartiy stree '.
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