This Blog is a part of my online blog task for Virginia Woolf’s “To The Lighthouse”.Given by Dr. Dilip barad sir.
Click here to see worksheet of the blog tsak .
(1) How can you explain that 'what' Virginia Woolf wanted to say...
2) "The novel is both the tribute and critique of Mrs. Ramsay".
3)
B) Oedipus Myth
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'.
It was done; it was finished.
Yes, she thought, laying down her brush in extreme fatigue, I have had my
vision.
we can compare this line with Woolf's life that like Lily she also had her vision and tried to prove that famale's ability to write and paint another thing she also represent herself through Lily's character.
-"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".
may be it can be Woolf told to herself that you are a fool, another meaning this line also symbol of relation of family.
Click here to see worksheet of the blog tsak .
(1) How can you explain that 'what' Virginia Woolf wanted to say...
- Stream of consciousness is very well used in "To the lighthouse "by Virginia Woolf. BY using this technique, she explains that how our relationships are so complicated. At some extent the novel says about Virginia Woolf’s own experience in her real life.
- The technique is used that how we think and how we make simple and formal feelings multifarious. she said in her novel that human relations is more important, because when Mr. Ramsay and his family go out to lighthouse that time all lighthouse member play cricket and other game and also busy in own work and interested work do.
- The technique of stream of consciousness especially with description of consciousness. So it is all characters can be vividly seen by reader were then author has no need to describe anything.
2) "The novel is both the tribute and critique of Mrs. Ramsay".
- Yes, we can say that the novel is both tribute and critique of Mrs.Ramsay. At the very beginning of the novel, we find that Mrs. Ramsay is very carring mother and good housewife. She handled every situations easily. So, it shows the ideal women or ideal housewife. She is invested in the importance of marriage between a man and a woman; it clearly sees the flaws in her own marriage also. She always pamper ego of her husband Mr. Ramsay.
- It also reflect Indian Ideal woman who obey her husband in every situation.But we can say that it is not naturally, that anyone can handle every situation without any reaction.
- In novel Lily Briscoe painting also symbolized woman’s struggle in patriarchal society. We can also read Mrs. Ramsay in the context of Indian ideal woman.
- This Sanskrit sloka
Karyeshu dasi, Karaneshu manthri;
Bhojeshu mata, Shayaneshu rambha;
Kshamayeshu dharithri, Roopeshu lakshmi;
Satkarma yukta, Kuladharma pathni.
Is totally regarded with the character of Mrs. Ramsay.
3)
- Lighthouse is at the center of the novel, it symbolises the spiritual strength and emotional support which is provided by Mrs, Ramsay to other characters of the novel in that sense , 'Lighthouse' stands for Mrs, Ramsay.
- But when we look from other side , Mrs, Ramsay became wall rather than bridge between her husband and children as the end the wall fell down between Mrs,Ramsay, James and Cam.
4) Joseph Blotner, two myths are patterned together.
- Here Joseph Blotner has describe the two types of famous myths.
B) Oedipus Myth
- The pagan myth represented primordial goddesses and it is described the major role of female with the idea of Karl Jung. It is mentioned the female role like the mother, and mother remain in the center , mother is controlling one and all . In this myth Rhea is presented as a mother, Demeter is presented as a wife and Persephore is presented as a Daughter. The importance of this myth in this novel is that here these three role is reflected in only one character that is Mrs. Ramsay.
- Oedipus killed his father accdenand married his mother. So it told the attraction between mother and son. In this novel described relationship between mother and son. James didn't like his father because he feels insecurity he thinks that his father taken away his mother from him. He heated his father so much that sometimes he wish to killed his father."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. "
5) German term “ kunstlerroman”.
- An artist novel detailing the artist's growth to maturity.
- The künstlerroman is a type of bildungsroman—a novel where the protagonist undergoes an education—in which the writer charts the course of an artist undergoing an evolution from nascent stirrings to full artisti8c voice. Literally, künstlerroman translates to English as “artist” (from the German, “künstler”) and “novel” (from the French, “roman”).
- where the hero often dreams of becoming a great artist but settles for being a mere useful citizen, the Künstlerroman usually ends on a note of arrogant rejection of the commonplace life.
- According to this meaning we can say that in this novel many biographical catches included by the author.
- Like.
- ) Mrs. Ramsay’s character drawn as a mother of Virginia.
- ) Deep philosophical thinking of Virginia reflected in the dialogue of the novel.
- ) 8 siblings of author drown as children of Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay.
- ) Drown herself in water.(suicide)
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'.
- Mrs. Ramsay is the protagonist of the novel . we find with some extent Virginia Woolf’s life and dilemma of herself as a women. Mrs.Ramsay is may be representation of her mother and Lily is representation of Virginia Woolf.
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?
- yes there is a vast different between movie and novel. 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.we find that the novel begin with the scene that Mrs Ramsay and james are sitting and Lily briscoe making a painting that was the scene and the story end with the novel after 10 year when Lily briscoe complete his painting and Champs finally reach To the Lighthouse or not that is question .the movie begin with the different angle and find that the movie is not convince live follow the novels plot somehow it's a changing and some sins are adapted from as it is in novel.
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".)
- My interpretation about the last line of the novel and film.
- Last line of the novel was
It was done; it was finished.
Yes, she thought, laying down her brush in extreme fatigue, I have had my
vision.
we can compare this line with Woolf's life that like Lily she also had her vision and tried to prove that famale's ability to write and paint another thing she also represent herself through Lily's character.
- And last line of the film was
-"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".
may be it can be Woolf told to herself that you are a fool, another meaning this line also symbol of relation of family.
9) What does the catalogue named as 'Army and Navy' signify? What does cutting of 'Refrigerator' signify?
- 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.
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?
- In this novel we can find the representation of fairy tale told by Mrs. Ramsay to her children which shows barrenness and unreasonable demand from the husband which also depicts that how Mrs.Ramsay had to bent infront the bad mood of her husband because a woman should not speak or quarrel with anybody especially with her husband otherwise she would be known as an uncultured woman. So it shows suppressed desires of woman like Mrs. Ramsay. Mrs. Ramsay always used to pamper the ego of her husband, which we can also see find the story of fisherman’s wife. So cutting of the fish also highlights the male dominant and the danger of male willfulness. So we can say that fisherman’s fairy tale is related with Mrs. Ramsay and Lily also as she too had suppressed desires of womanhood. This is a great narrative quality found in the novel by Virginia Woolf.
11)How is India represented in 'To The Lighthouse'?
India is referred 6 times in the novel.
India is ruled by the men-folk.India is exotic place where lies great romance, adventure and happiness.
Augustus Carmichael’s going to India is considered as some sort of achievement.
India is referred as place of desire. . . a desire to visit.
Made in India jewelry is a thing to be possessed – owned with pride.
Some land which is far away – unknown land, the exotic land.
Thank you. ..........
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