To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

 Hello readers,

"To the Lighthouse" by Virginia Woolf is a captivating story that follows the Ramsay family on their trips to a Scottish island. It's a tale about family dynamics, the passage of time, and the way our memories shape our lives. Through its beautiful prose and unique storytelling, the book explores the inner thoughts and emotions of its characters, making it a fascinating journey into human experience.

Virginia Woolf is quite challenging to read. She began exploring the technique of 'stream of consciousness,' a term first used by American psychologist and philosopher William James in his book 'The Principles of Psychology,' published in 1890. Throughout the novel, action takes a backseat, and instead, we embark on a journey through the minds of the characters.

Moreover, the shifting narrative creates a lot of confusion about who is speaking. There are characters who engage in profound contemplation, making them more relatable to real humans. Novels in modern times have become closer to human life, embodying the characteristic of Realism. In this novel, we delve deep into the conscious minds of the characters; they randomly describe things like a tablecloth, a jar, a rose, scissors, and books, weaving these descriptions into the main storyline, making it harder to grasp the main action.

The novel is devided in three parts. 

The Window: This part sets the scene at the Ramsay family's summer home. Mrs. Ramsay tries to arrange a trip to the lighthouse, but it doesn't happen. It's mostly about the characters, their thoughts, and the dynamics among them.

Time Passes: This section covers the time during World War I when the house is empty. It's a haunting depiction of the passage of time, loss, and change.

The Lighthouse: Finally, some of the characters return to the house, and a trip to the lighthouse happens. It's about closure, change, and a sense of resolution for the characters after the long passage of time.

For instance, when Mrs. Ramsay, while telling a story to her beloved son James, reflects on her own existence and her inability to live for herself, it shows how easily her thoughts shift. The narrator describes her as "...reading and thinking, quite easily, both at the same time..." On the other hand, the character of Mr. Ramsay is typical, needing constant praise from everyone, especially from his wife. In Mr. Ramsay's narrative, Woolf uses many allusions to Thackeray, Thomas Carlyle, Locke, Hume, and the French Revolution, often referred to as "Talking Nonsense."

Charles Tansley is a guest and also a student of Mr. Ramsay. He is a researcher working on his dissertation. A bookish man, he tends to avoid social gatherings, but being a guest in the Ramsay home, he is obligated to attend. Throughout the dining time, he feels alienated and wishes to escape. He expresses to Lily that 'women can't paint, women can't write.' and "women made civilization impossible with all their charm, all their silliness." 

 Another dialogue from Mrs. Ramsay echoes a similar sentiment: "...how, in the chamber of the mind and heart of a woman, physically touching her, there were treasures like those in the tombs of kings. They would teach one everything, but they would never be openly offered, never made public."

In the relationship between James and Mrs. Ramsay, there are reflections of the Oedipus complex. The primary action revolves around James wanting to go to the Lighthouse and asking, "Are we going to the Lighthouse? No, not tomorrow; your father says not." This sentence recurs throughout the first part but leads to no resolution. This desire turns into a kind of vengeance for James; for instance, he expresses a desire to kill his father.

Consequently, in the last chapter, when Mr. Ramsay is finally ready to take James to the Lighthouse, James is not ready himself. He only went there for his father's sake. Meanwhile, Mr. Ramsay loses three members of his family. His agony and misery turn into a sense of alienation. Even the settings of world war one is revealed here. 

Furthermore, Lily, a painter introduced in the first chapter, struggles to paint anything because she's attempting to paint Mrs. Ramsay. As the novel reaches its climax, she begins to draw. Lily represents the "New Woman," someone who doesn't believe in the institution of marriage and also maintains an indifference toward Mr. Ramsay.

In the resolution, there was a constant change of setting, transitioning from the Ramsay family's journey to the Lighthouse to Lily on the island. There was a scene set in an obscure twilight. Lily completed her painting. The last lines of the novel are, "Yes," she thought, laying down her brush in extreme fatigue, I have had my vision."

In a way, the novel vividly explores the passage of time and its profound effects on individuals and relationships. Memory and perception intertwine, shaping the characters' realities and influencing their understanding of the world around them. Woolf boldly challenges societal norms, delving into the complexities of gender roles and the expectations imposed on individuals, notably portrayed through the characters of Mrs. Ramsay and Lily Briscoe.

"To the Lighthouse" is about people trying to figure out what life means when things are uncertain and always changing.

Thank you.