Thinking Activity : To The Lighthouse
To the Lighthouse" is a 1927 novel by Virginia Woolf. The novel centres on the Ramsay family and their visits to the Isle of Skye in Scotland between 1910 and 1920.
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 abstractions.)
Ans : ~ Virginia Woolf use the modernism in her novel To The Lighthouse. She expressed her all the characters very well. She also use some autobiographical element here. She use stream of consciousness.
She present here complexity of human relationship between Mrs. And Mr. Ramsay. Lily Briscoe a female artist struggle a lot . In her era people think that women cannot write or paint. She also face the struggle with Mrs . Ramsay and Charles Tansley . Through this Woolf presented the situation of women in that era. She wrote her all work very critical way. She made satire on her character and doing critical thinking which that times man cannot do. She also present patriarchy and gender difference here.
2) Do you agree: "The novel is both the tribute and critique of Mrs. Ramsay"? 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. )
Ans : ~ Ye, we can say that the novel is a tribute and critique of Mrs. Ramsay, because from the very beginning of the novel we can observe her character that she is very caring and kind hearted housewife and mother but when we see Mrs Ramsay with the perspective of Lily Brisco we can say that her good behaviour is not natural. She has considered as an ideal woman because she fits in frame of patriarchal mindset. In the painting of Lily we can see that Mrs Ramsay is at the centre of the painting and summer house but she is knitting (ideal housewife) and guiding her child (ideal mother), Mrs Ramsay's character goes downward from controlling position to a mere housewife.
Yes we can read Mrs. R in context of the idea of Ideal Indian Woman as she follows all the rules of wife which has designed by patriarchy.
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 )
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Ans : ~ Lighthous is a symbol for giving light to everyone, guide to everyone who is lost. In the novel Mrs. Ramsay play role like lighthouse. She takes care of husband, tells stories every afternoon to James that he grew well and that’s why James loves mother and hates father. She also advises Lily to Marry. She also takes care of other who comes there. It is she who was spirit of house and that why everyone miss her after her death. So lighthouse symbolically suggests Mrs. Ramsay.
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?
Ans: ~ In literature there is always myth behind the story /novel. In The Lighthouse also has myth behind it.
Myth of Demeter:-
In this novel there was a myth of Demeter and her daughter zeus. This symbolize mother and daughter relationship. Here in the novel it symbolize relationship between Mrs Ramsay and her daughter. Demeter is Goddess of fertility. So she also presented by character of mrs. Ramsay and her children.
Myth of Uranus:-
This present the mother son relationship in the novel. Mrs. Ramsay always care for her child . She always give them company and love. In myth of Uranus , mother inspire her son to kill the father so here the character of James is like him who wants to kill his father.
5) What do you understand by the German term 'Künstlerroman'? How can you justify that 'To The Lighthouse' is 'Künstlerroman' novel?
Ans : ~ The term Kunstlerroman mean artist's novel. It may be classifieds as a specific subgener of Bildungsroman. In this the central character is an artist of any kind.
The novel Lighthouse is also like Kunstlerroman . Character of Lily was an artist. She always facing problem as an artist in the novel.Mrs. Ramsay and Charles Tansley doesn't like to watch her as a artist. But she do it still the end of the novel. She complete her painting of mrs. Ramsay.Woolf also symbolized her character with this.
6 ) Lily' Dilemma in the novel " To the Lighthouse ."
Ans : ~ As we all knows that Lily's character represents the biographical image. She always talk about the independent life. According to her there is no need of man. In short Lily's thoughts remains totally vice versa from the thoughts of Mrs. Ramsay. But at the end she constantly thinks about Mrs. Ramsay. In a way she also wants to be like her. Because she realizes that Mrs. Ramsay remains in everyone's heart even after her death.
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 screen / visuals?
Ans : ~ Yes, there are a few difference between the novel and a movie. In the movie most of the scene runs faster compared to the novel. The another different is comes in the end. In the novel Lily just puts her brush. While in a movie she goes upstairs and start talking with herself.
In a movie it becomes little bit difficult to understand. Whereas the technique, parentheses of the novel helps reader in the understanding.
8 ) Ho do you interpret the last line of the novel ?
Ans : ~ In the end of the novel she feels fatigue. But she is now happy too. She thinks that she has now got the artistic vision. Which she was wanted. We can interpret that she considers herself as a winner against the Mrs. Ramsay and Charles Transley. How independent life gives her good vision.
But in the movie after completing the painting she goes upstairs and and consider herself as a fool. She was thinking that without this family life, she can live the life easily. But now it becomes difficult for her to live alone. And she starts thinking to be like Mrs. Ramsay.
9) What does the catalogue named as 'Army and Navy' signify? What does cutting of 'Refrigerator' signify?
Ans : ~ 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”?
Ans : ~ The tale of "Fisherman’s Wife is connected with the character of Mrs. Ramsay as well as Mr. Ramsay, because Woolf is subverting the misogyny of fairytale for example the male characters are behaving like fisherman's wife, they have wishes which are not fulfilled in a way they wants and that unsatisfied desires leads them towards failure. Mrs Ramsay is more successful in her work than Mr. Ramsay and Lily Brisco is better in her profession than Charles Tansley. Fairytale shows the dangers of male willfulness and desires.
11) How is India represented in 'To The Lighthouse'?
Ans : ~ First time it represent the patriarchal discourse through the character of Mrs. Ramsay- As a ideal lady.
So many times we hear about the prosperity of the India. So most of the time India portrayed as a land of pearls.
We can interpret that Augustus Carmichael refers India as a land of peace. We can connect this thing with the T. S. Eliot' s The Waste Land too.
Thank you.....
To the Lighthouse" is a 1927 novel by Virginia Woolf. The novel centres on the Ramsay family and their visits to the Isle of Skye in Scotland between 1910 and 1920.
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 abstractions.)
Ans : ~ Virginia Woolf use the modernism in her novel To The Lighthouse. She expressed her all the characters very well. She also use some autobiographical element here. She use stream of consciousness.
She present here complexity of human relationship between Mrs. And Mr. Ramsay. Lily Briscoe a female artist struggle a lot . In her era people think that women cannot write or paint. She also face the struggle with Mrs . Ramsay and Charles Tansley . Through this Woolf presented the situation of women in that era. She wrote her all work very critical way. She made satire on her character and doing critical thinking which that times man cannot do. She also present patriarchy and gender difference here.
2) Do you agree: "The novel is both the tribute and critique of Mrs. Ramsay"? 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. )
Ans : ~ Ye, we can say that the novel is a tribute and critique of Mrs. Ramsay, because from the very beginning of the novel we can observe her character that she is very caring and kind hearted housewife and mother but when we see Mrs Ramsay with the perspective of Lily Brisco we can say that her good behaviour is not natural. She has considered as an ideal woman because she fits in frame of patriarchal mindset. In the painting of Lily we can see that Mrs Ramsay is at the centre of the painting and summer house but she is knitting (ideal housewife) and guiding her child (ideal mother), Mrs Ramsay's character goes downward from controlling position to a mere housewife.
Yes we can read Mrs. R in context of the idea of Ideal Indian Woman as she follows all the rules of wife which has designed by patriarchy.
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 )
+
Ans : ~ Lighthous is a symbol for giving light to everyone, guide to everyone who is lost. In the novel Mrs. Ramsay play role like lighthouse. She takes care of husband, tells stories every afternoon to James that he grew well and that’s why James loves mother and hates father. She also advises Lily to Marry. She also takes care of other who comes there. It is she who was spirit of house and that why everyone miss her after her death. So lighthouse symbolically suggests Mrs. Ramsay.
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?
Ans: ~ In literature there is always myth behind the story /novel. In The Lighthouse also has myth behind it.
Myth of Demeter:-
In this novel there was a myth of Demeter and her daughter zeus. This symbolize mother and daughter relationship. Here in the novel it symbolize relationship between Mrs Ramsay and her daughter. Demeter is Goddess of fertility. So she also presented by character of mrs. Ramsay and her children.
Myth of Uranus:-
This present the mother son relationship in the novel. Mrs. Ramsay always care for her child . She always give them company and love. In myth of Uranus , mother inspire her son to kill the father so here the character of James is like him who wants to kill his father.
5) What do you understand by the German term 'Künstlerroman'? How can you justify that 'To The Lighthouse' is 'Künstlerroman' novel?
Ans : ~ The term Kunstlerroman mean artist's novel. It may be classifieds as a specific subgener of Bildungsroman. In this the central character is an artist of any kind.
The novel Lighthouse is also like Kunstlerroman . Character of Lily was an artist. She always facing problem as an artist in the novel.Mrs. Ramsay and Charles Tansley doesn't like to watch her as a artist. But she do it still the end of the novel. She complete her painting of mrs. Ramsay.Woolf also symbolized her character with this.
6 ) Lily' Dilemma in the novel " To the Lighthouse ."
Ans : ~ As we all knows that Lily's character represents the biographical image. She always talk about the independent life. According to her there is no need of man. In short Lily's thoughts remains totally vice versa from the thoughts of Mrs. Ramsay. But at the end she constantly thinks about Mrs. Ramsay. In a way she also wants to be like her. Because she realizes that Mrs. Ramsay remains in everyone's heart even after her death.
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 screen / visuals?
Ans : ~ Yes, there are a few difference between the novel and a movie. In the movie most of the scene runs faster compared to the novel. The another different is comes in the end. In the novel Lily just puts her brush. While in a movie she goes upstairs and start talking with herself.
In a movie it becomes little bit difficult to understand. Whereas the technique, parentheses of the novel helps reader in the understanding.
8 ) Ho do you interpret the last line of the novel ?
Ans : ~ In the end of the novel she feels fatigue. But she is now happy too. She thinks that she has now got the artistic vision. Which she was wanted. We can interpret that she considers herself as a winner against the Mrs. Ramsay and Charles Transley. How independent life gives her good vision.
But in the movie after completing the painting she goes upstairs and and consider herself as a fool. She was thinking that without this family life, she can live the life easily. But now it becomes difficult for her to live alone. And she starts thinking to be like Mrs. Ramsay.
9) What does the catalogue named as 'Army and Navy' signify? What does cutting of 'Refrigerator' signify?
Ans : ~ 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”?
Ans : ~ The tale of "Fisherman’s Wife is connected with the character of Mrs. Ramsay as well as Mr. Ramsay, because Woolf is subverting the misogyny of fairytale for example the male characters are behaving like fisherman's wife, they have wishes which are not fulfilled in a way they wants and that unsatisfied desires leads them towards failure. Mrs Ramsay is more successful in her work than Mr. Ramsay and Lily Brisco is better in her profession than Charles Tansley. Fairytale shows the dangers of male willfulness and desires.
11) How is India represented in 'To The Lighthouse'?
Ans : ~ First time it represent the patriarchal discourse through the character of Mrs. Ramsay- As a ideal lady.
So many times we hear about the prosperity of the India. So most of the time India portrayed as a land of pearls.
We can interpret that Augustus Carmichael refers India as a land of peace. We can connect this thing with the T. S. Eliot' s The Waste Land too.
Thank you.....
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