On the base our classroom discussion I try to give my answers of the questions of the novel " To The Lighthouse" by Virginia Woolf.
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. Can we read Mrs. R in context of the idea of Ideal Indian Woman.
After reading the article of Andre Viola, it seems like that the novel The novel is both the tribute and critique of Mrs. Ramsay. But it depends on readers how they want to read taking support of reader response theory. No doubt the novel is considered as the tribute of Mrs.Ramsay because after her death also she is able to live in minds of other characters. But.. I just think that the novel is more critique rather than tribute of Mrs.Ramsay. As we all know that the stereotypical Indian culture , Mrs.Ramsay is presented as same as Indian woman presented in their literature. Does Virginia Woolf describes that only through this? Mrs.Ramsay does all things for family members, she lives for others , she does so many sacrifices for the sake of others and so many things which is already decided by patriarchal society. Mrs.Ramsay is alive in mind of others because of her services and compassion to each. She has something to give all characters. Mrs.Ramsay is also known as ' Angle of the House'. And Lilly Briscoe is totally opposite from the Mrs.Ramsay. Lilly tries to break wrong idea that " the “women can’t paint can’t write”. She does that and prove women’s identity as intellectuals as men. I think Virginia Woolf is more interested to Lilly Briscoe's character rather than Mrs. Ramsay. Both are remarkable characters in novel because Mrs. Ramsay is alive because of her Womanhood only and Lilly Briscoe for her art. So, According to me, It is the way of describe irony not tribute of Mrs.Ramsay.
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.
Definitely the symbol - Light house stands for Mrs. Ramsay. As lighthouse show the path who lost their direction in Sea because of heavy storm or weather. The same way , Mrs. Ramsay is source of emotional security for all members. We may say that she is the centre for all and also become the bridge between her husband and her children. As lighthouse stands spirituality and inner light , Mrs.Ramsay also stands for it because she is only one who has power to connect or hold all members together . After the death of Mrs.Ramsay , everything is changed and people feel that the light is gone now. Connection is lost now and everybody feel that they are disconnected. The most important that after her death, her husband and children can't stay together means she is not actually the bridge between them but she makes wall during her presence with the name of care , love and emotional security. Means..Each is lost one or another way but Mrs. Ramsay has inner sight to hold all things together and becomes the spiritual guide with the symbol of lighthouse. Lilly's character is somehow represented the revolt against the patriarchal society. Lilly wants to prove that "Women can paint and write." it goes direct reference to Virginia's biography and reader can understand that Lilly's dilemma is Woolf's own dilemma and Lilly's thought process is the thinking process of writer herself.
4. What do you understand by the German term 'Künstlerroman'? How can you justify that 'To The Lighthouse' is 'Künstlerroman' novel?
German term 'Künstlerroman' means the struggle of an artist to develop her/his progress. There are so many things which are restricted to them getting their achievements. Artists must live with her/his pain and suffering throughout the life. If we connect this term in " To The Lighthouse" We have to refer the character of Lilly Briscoe as artist. Lilly Briscoe herself suffers a lot in her inner turmoil and waves because she is unable to decide what is the actual reality of life being a woman. She wants to prove her intelligence in front of men who said that " Women can't paint and can't write." and she also prove that but we don't conclude with this term 'Kunstlerroman' because at last when she specks that " I had my vision" - what does it mean? It is the open for all and one can read as one wants. Does it mean that she accept the way of living life as Mrs.Ramsay suggested ? Does it mean that art is in vain ? Does it mean that what she do is worthless?
5. 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 power of appeal to words than to the screen?
Yes it is. The novel is more poignant than the movie. Both words and screen have its own advantages but words are more powerful than the screen. In reading novel one has chance to imagine the things with various aspects with various colours but it is not possible in the screening the movie. Screening movie is restricted the power of imaginations. Novel has poetic charm which movie can't provide to readers or audiences. And movie is always directed as director wants, not as writer actually described in novel. No doubt screening movie also help us to clarify the ideas and some confusion but it harms readers pictorial quality. In imagination one has so many things at same time and screening movie has only one. In ' To the Lighthouse ' as we read some line in class like.... “Had there been an axe handy, a poker, or any weapon that would have gashed a hole in his father’s breast and killed him, there and then, James would have seized it.” - it describes the strength of words which we can't find in movie.
6. 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".)
The last lines " It was done; it was finished.Yes, she thought, laying down her brush in extreme fatigue, I have had my vision." It interprets with two aspects with two aspects. first one as literal meaning of the words now painting is completed and finished means work is done by her successfully. And metaphorically, it suggests that she completed the painting of Mrs.Ramsay who is alive in her painting for womanhood and her qualities. After getting the success against the patriarchal society, prove herself she can't come out from her inner struggle or from her own turmoil. She thinks again that the there is the only way of living life which is suggested by Mrs.Ramsay. Being free , being independent , there is something which she feels lack of in herself and there for after completing painting in film she speaks that "Closed doors, open windows" "Dearest Briscoe, you are a fool". Means at the end of the novel she may want to accept the way of living life of Mrs.Ramsay.
7. What does the catalogue named as 'Army and Navy' signify? What does cutting of 'Refrigerator' signify?
Generally, Refrigerator uses for keeping the things as it is. and in novel also through the symbol of refrigerator, writer suggests that the protagonist of the novel Mrs.Ramsay tries to preserve the things. She always tries to preserve the refine form of culture as it is her responsibility. It is suggestion to James from Mrs. Ramsay to cut refrigerator from the catalog of Army and Navy. Refrigerator also one kind of technology and technology itself a symbol of constantly change and improving so , it also stands for improving human culture.
Thank you.
- 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 abstractions.)
As we know that novel deals with the complexity of human relations in life. To ascribe the complexity of everyday life, she uses the narrative technique which is called " Stream Of Consciousness." Using such psychological aspect for narration she makes her characters more complex because thoughts never have sequences. She describes the fragmentation of each thing. like.... Thoughts, emotions and feelings. Though such kinds of feelings are formal for human beings, it creates inner turmoil in common people life. In novel external plot is not much necessary or the events which is described by Woolf quite unimportant. It is the impression that they make on the minds of various characters that counts. In novel, we find the various way of perceiving the process of life and all are suffering from inner turmoil to find answers without saying to others.
" Who knows what we are , what we feel?, What we think?
Writer Virginia describes the minutes details of thought process without giving much importance to emotions like... Mrs.Ramsay's death. And all those things can be described only through the most complex technique - 'Stream Of Consciousness.'
After reading the article of Andre Viola, it seems like that the novel The novel is both the tribute and critique of Mrs. Ramsay. But it depends on readers how they want to read taking support of reader response theory. No doubt the novel is considered as the tribute of Mrs.Ramsay because after her death also she is able to live in minds of other characters. But.. I just think that the novel is more critique rather than tribute of Mrs.Ramsay. As we all know that the stereotypical Indian culture , Mrs.Ramsay is presented as same as Indian woman presented in their literature. Does Virginia Woolf describes that only through this? Mrs.Ramsay does all things for family members, she lives for others , she does so many sacrifices for the sake of others and so many things which is already decided by patriarchal society. Mrs.Ramsay is alive in mind of others because of her services and compassion to each. She has something to give all characters. Mrs.Ramsay is also known as ' Angle of the House'. And Lilly Briscoe is totally opposite from the Mrs.Ramsay. Lilly tries to break wrong idea that " the “women can’t paint can’t write”. She does that and prove women’s identity as intellectuals as men. I think Virginia Woolf is more interested to Lilly Briscoe's character rather than Mrs. Ramsay. Both are remarkable characters in novel because Mrs. Ramsay is alive because of her Womanhood only and Lilly Briscoe for her art. So, According to me, It is the way of describe irony not tribute of Mrs.Ramsay.
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.
Definitely the symbol - Light house stands for Mrs. Ramsay. As lighthouse show the path who lost their direction in Sea because of heavy storm or weather. The same way , Mrs. Ramsay is source of emotional security for all members. We may say that she is the centre for all and also become the bridge between her husband and her children. As lighthouse stands spirituality and inner light , Mrs.Ramsay also stands for it because she is only one who has power to connect or hold all members together . After the death of Mrs.Ramsay , everything is changed and people feel that the light is gone now. Connection is lost now and everybody feel that they are disconnected. The most important that after her death, her husband and children can't stay together means she is not actually the bridge between them but she makes wall during her presence with the name of care , love and emotional security. Means..Each is lost one or another way but Mrs. Ramsay has inner sight to hold all things together and becomes the spiritual guide with the symbol of lighthouse. Lilly's character is somehow represented the revolt against the patriarchal society. Lilly wants to prove that "Women can paint and write." it goes direct reference to Virginia's biography and reader can understand that Lilly's dilemma is Woolf's own dilemma and Lilly's thought process is the thinking process of writer herself.
4. What do you understand by the German term 'Künstlerroman'? How can you justify that 'To The Lighthouse' is 'Künstlerroman' novel?
German term 'Künstlerroman' means the struggle of an artist to develop her/his progress. There are so many things which are restricted to them getting their achievements. Artists must live with her/his pain and suffering throughout the life. If we connect this term in " To The Lighthouse" We have to refer the character of Lilly Briscoe as artist. Lilly Briscoe herself suffers a lot in her inner turmoil and waves because she is unable to decide what is the actual reality of life being a woman. She wants to prove her intelligence in front of men who said that " Women can't paint and can't write." and she also prove that but we don't conclude with this term 'Kunstlerroman' because at last when she specks that " I had my vision" - what does it mean? It is the open for all and one can read as one wants. Does it mean that she accept the way of living life as Mrs.Ramsay suggested ? Does it mean that art is in vain ? Does it mean that what she do is worthless?
5. 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 power of appeal to words than to the screen?
Yes it is. The novel is more poignant than the movie. Both words and screen have its own advantages but words are more powerful than the screen. In reading novel one has chance to imagine the things with various aspects with various colours but it is not possible in the screening the movie. Screening movie is restricted the power of imaginations. Novel has poetic charm which movie can't provide to readers or audiences. And movie is always directed as director wants, not as writer actually described in novel. No doubt screening movie also help us to clarify the ideas and some confusion but it harms readers pictorial quality. In imagination one has so many things at same time and screening movie has only one. In ' To the Lighthouse ' as we read some line in class like.... “Had there been an axe handy, a poker, or any weapon that would have gashed a hole in his father’s breast and killed him, there and then, James would have seized it.” - it describes the strength of words which we can't find in movie.
6. 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".)
The last lines " It was done; it was finished.Yes, she thought, laying down her brush in extreme fatigue, I have had my vision." It interprets with two aspects with two aspects. first one as literal meaning of the words now painting is completed and finished means work is done by her successfully. And metaphorically, it suggests that she completed the painting of Mrs.Ramsay who is alive in her painting for womanhood and her qualities. After getting the success against the patriarchal society, prove herself she can't come out from her inner struggle or from her own turmoil. She thinks again that the there is the only way of living life which is suggested by Mrs.Ramsay. Being free , being independent , there is something which she feels lack of in herself and there for after completing painting in film she speaks that "Closed doors, open windows" "Dearest Briscoe, you are a fool". Means at the end of the novel she may want to accept the way of living life of Mrs.Ramsay.
7. What does the catalogue named as 'Army and Navy' signify? What does cutting of 'Refrigerator' signify?
Generally, Refrigerator uses for keeping the things as it is. and in novel also through the symbol of refrigerator, writer suggests that the protagonist of the novel Mrs.Ramsay tries to preserve the things. She always tries to preserve the refine form of culture as it is her responsibility. It is suggestion to James from Mrs. Ramsay to cut refrigerator from the catalog of Army and Navy. Refrigerator also one kind of technology and technology itself a symbol of constantly change and improving so , it also stands for improving human culture.
Thank you.
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