Thinking Activity 'To the Lighthouse'.

This blog is a part of my thinking activity given by a teacher on 'To the Lighthouse', by Virginia Woolf. In this activity, such questions are being asked on the digital platform (http://dilipbarad.blogspot.com/2014/09/worksheet-virginia-woolfs-to-lighthouse.html) and students need to answer all the question in their blogs.

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.)

There are other techniques also through which, one can explain all the thing what Virginia Woolf wanted to say, but the technique of Stream of Consciousness seems the best to explain as the whole novel is highly psychological where the complexity of relationships as well as the problems in day to day life with near relations due to such circumstances are being tried to explore by the author. i.e the relations between Mr. Ramsay and his son James is not looking good from the side of James the even James have an anger (inside) towards his father that even he wants to kill him just denial of Mr. Ramsay to visit the lighthouse, but it can be consider as his immaturity, but as he shown grew up in the third part 3 (The Lighthouse), his thinking also becomes mature towards his father, he has a respect towards him. Now all this feelings of anger as well as respect of James expressed through Virginia Woolf with the help of Stream of Consciousness, and this is the real success of an author that she able to make us understood what is the Psyche of James by exploring the dark as well as bright psychological condition of James.

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 I agree that the novel is both the tribute and critique Mrs Ramsay. Firstly The definition of an ideal woman given in above link is itself problematic in contemporary times, as every person wants the liberality in his/her life, they don't want to be confines in the control of any institution (But anyhow, they have to be) so the idea of an ideal Women according to Indian mythology given in above link says that a wife must be a good loyal worker just like a maid; a good adviser like a minister of King’s court; a caretaker like a mother; Romantic like Rambha, in bed room; a pardoner just like a goddess of earth; a beautiful like Lakshmi, the goddess of leaning and wife of Brahma; and perfect duty minded one. Now, all the characteristics indicates that a wife must be doing something for others not for herself like she must be a caretaker like a mother who can take cares of of her husband or children, romantic like a Rambha who would satisfy the need of man. in this idea of Women we can't find the free space for a women as the responsibilities has been already give as a boss gives to their paid employs. so we can say that novel is critique of Mrs Ramsay as she seems a traditional housewife whose duty is please other people surrounded by her. I think the tragedy of a traditional Women in modern times has been shown in the delighted character of Mrs Ramsay through the perspective of Lily Briscoe and her painting. In painting Mrs R. is knitting and guiding a child which shows the characteristics ideal housewife. on the other side, the novel is also the tribute to Mrs R. as the unfinished desire to provide cloths, first aid, newspaper (necessity of all an entire human being) to far living people to the lighthouse being fulfilled by her family members, especially by Mr. Ramsay. I this the novel is more critique rather tribute to Mrs Ramsay as it is nowhere indicated or said in the novel that the visit to the Lighthouse is in the memory of Mrs. Ramsay, but it has been tried to convey in more philosophical way.  

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 )

Mrs. Ramsay can be seen as the lighthouse as the symbol of lighthouse is consider as the strong pillar which bears the pounce from the sea, which is stood in between of the sea and not only suffering from the sea but also shows the way to the wandered people. In the same manner Mrs. Ramsay is also tries to please all the people all the time and still remains objective and having very kind nature. 

Lily can be also called the lighthouse because throughout the novel she is being irritated by the Tensely(Patriarchy) by such statements like "Women can't write or paint" as the lighthouse also has to suffer many storms into the sea. but ultimately at the last she proves herself by completing her painting that whatever Tensely (society) says about her (Modern Women) she is free from all the stereotypes.

4. 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".) 
  
Yes, the last line of the novel (Yes, she thought...........I have had my vision) suggests two things. one is that painting is now completed and another is that she proved herself as an independent women in the modern times just by complete the paint. she does not just paint a picture but that picture is of Mrs. Ramsay, by that painting she would tries to prove that she is not like Mrs. Ramsay who was busy in house keeping which clearly indicate in her painting.