Virginia-Woolf-Modernist-Novel-To-The-Lighthouse

The main difference between the novel and movie screening of "to the lighthouse" is; in novel the novelist(Virginia Woolf has used Stream of consciousness technique) while in movie adaptation, it isn't there, except some few scenes, where one has to observe minutely.

Adapted by Hugh Stoddart, directed by Colin Gregg and produced by Allan Shallcross.

In this image Charles Stanley is becoming bitter about his past and vomiting out.

Where Nancy is worrying for herself and guessing that "Prue will be happier for a while" but what "after a while".

As in Indian philosophy, there are some perceived prototypes for a woman that she should be intelligent, loving unconditionally, she should be like rambha(in romance), loyal, she must be dedicated though she is humiliated, she should be respecting, understanding her husband, encouraging and giving him comfort(specifically in bed).

While with Caroline Ramsay the case is different, she is an English wife.

Nancy's expression indicates, that she must be visualizing her father's image in Charles Tansley's character . As their father is treating them authoritatively now and then, Charles is going to go ahead with this tradition.

Though she occasionally appears in the novel, but her views and Lily Briscoe's point of views similarises in many things.

Mr. Ramsay is possessing such type of 'always crying personality' or can be said unconsciously, he is doing so, to make his ego pamper from Mrs. Caroline Ramsay.

So he is saying: Today also I didn't acheive anything and in its reply Mrs. Caroline is consoling that he is having good reputation and high numbers of admirers around him, more than this what he wants(a reference to Indian Philosophy).

But it seems as unconsciously in her mind the notion of 'remembrance after death' is taking shape.

The idea is to make people "dependant" rather than "independant".

[In visionary aspect] if we see , what is shown to the readers, isn't the case, but the real picture is something different.

When the novel starts with "lighthouse" and James shows his willingness to visit the lighthouse, he is responded in excusing manner by Mrs. Ramsay that..

"If it is fine tomorrow, we will go and you have to get up with lark(early in the morning)".

Or

"I will ask your father".

When reader reads, readers feel that Father is possessing an authoritative personality, but it isn't so. It is Mrs. Ramsay, who wants Mr. Ramsay to be an impression of villainous among his own children, in likewise manner she prevents integration of the entire family and so we see differences in each and every family members point of views.

At the end of the film we apparently see a contradictory situation. Where the walls created by Mrs. Ramsay, have been melted down and Mr. Ramsay and the family members came to realization that these modest and sympathetic walls didn't contribute in welfare of people but it deteriorate everything for the passage of time.

It seems as she is intentionally attempting to become good among people, while the case isn't so. She is rather trying to create contradiction between herself and himself. 

So she seems to be a poor English housewife rather than a complicated lady/woman. While Mr. Ramsay emerges out as an authoritative personality.

As the character of Mrs. Ramsay seems to be a mouthpiece of Virginia Woolf and as the entire novel revolves around her and her life. Though the novel is based on two idealisms; societal as well as individualism. The former one is more emphasized here.

In this context, the image can be read as a baby doll and boy doll are put in the corner, where at some distance a candle is kept, which suggests enlightenment/spirituality.

In contrast, if we read the same thing, what it conveys: as it is separated from the male part, it is becoming dead or without male, a female part shouldn't think of existence.

This also suggests 'interdependancy'.

In last part of the novel, as Lily Briscoe says: 'It was done; it was finished. Yes, she said laying down her brush in extreme fatigue'.

"I HAVE HAD MY VISION".

Interpreting the entire stanza, it elaborates that Lily has come to realization and she finds doing painting also exhaustive and devoid of meaning and perhaps experiencing hollowness and emptiness, by being tired of the routine life, though following individualistic approach.

Mr. Ramsay's authoritative personality is reflected as he throws dinner dish on the floor and gets up from the dining table. When in response Nancy is blaming her mother for defending her father, she is as usual forced to keep mum by her mother. 

Similarly we see many incidents, where Mrs. Ramsay is suppressed. If it is to repair summer house or dealing with her little boy, "James"

(By being a little boy, one expects that he/she should be treated likewise, and there isn't any crime in seeking what is needed, similarly James craving for, but he was thrushed to bed, to go to sleep).

Thus in 'frame studies' the long shot and close up scenes are highlighted appropriately. The balancing of the tone, rhythm, vibration, frequency is adequately maintained in the film and along with this the major highlighted theme is Victorianism Vs Modernism.

[To the Lighthouse: Reading Philosophy]

By connecting Shakespeare's name with Philosophy, where 'fame' like concept is at the center. When looked from the mountain top down the long wastes of the ages? To reach the zenith a person had travelled a lot, rather wasn't getting asleep in fear of if he is sleeping and won't be able to awaken then.

Fame is something: "The very stone one kills with one's boot will outlast Shakespeare".

So he at times pricks his feet, to check if he is alive or not and such people, who have indulged themselves into doom expedition to gain fame, are now living on sympathy, whiskey and wants someone to talk for his suffering ultimately just waiting for death.

Likewise it is asked that "how long the fame will last; two thousand years?" And what are two thousand years?

[India Passing Reference]

In context of this novel, India is used in factual manner. In this respective reference, it is said: that she will ask young men to stay, arranges lodge for them, she do so to gain favours for his husband. Those were addressed by  Mr. Ramsay as "exceptionally able" and "church mices{indicates slavery in India}) who are extremely obedient, can be moulded and wroughted in one's favouring manner. While this is the source that is providing Mr. Ramsay his bread for living.

Click here:(For) The Mythical Patterns.

Click here:(For) Fluidity and Masculinity.

Thus considering all references put in this novel; the fame that is useful at times, but temporary and futile an example with reference to Shakespeare is given. India portrayed as an exotic land of romance, adventure, happiness, land of jewelry, land to be desired to visit, land of slavery.

    [Works Cited]

• WOOLF, Virginia., "Modernist Novel-To the lighthouse", 5 May 1927.
• Blotner, Joseph L. “Mythic Patterns in to the Lighthouse.” PMLA, vol. 71, no. 4, 1956, pp. 547–562. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/460631. Accessed 28 Nov. 2020.
• Viola, André. “Fluidity versus Muscularity: Lily's Dilemma in Woolf's ‘To the Lighthouse.’” Journal of Modern Literature, vol. 24, no. 2, 2000, pp. 271–289. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3831911. Accessed 28 Nov. 2020.

Adopted References

Reference of Shakespeare.

Reference of India.

Reference of Philosophy(A-Q and Q-R).

• Stoddard, Hugh and Gregg, Collin., "Film Adaptation: To the lighthouse", produced by Allan, 23March 1983.
• Pederson, Glenn., "To the lighthouse: The Vision".