Paper 09 modernist literature
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Transcript of Paper 09 modernist literature
WELCOME EVERYONE
PAPER: 09 MODERNIST LITERATURE
‘Self- Realization’ in ‘To The Light- House’ by Virginia Woolf
“A Woman must have money and a room of her own, if she is to write
fiction.”-Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf She born on 25th January, 1882.
She grew up among the most important and influential British intellectuals of her time.
Received free rein to explore her father’s library.
Woolf was a prominent Literary feminine figure of the 20th century
Central figure of the ‘Bloomsbury group’- group of intellect.
She explores feminine freedom and modern sight of a woman in her most probable works like,A Room of One’s own
To the Light-House
Self Realization
Translation of the Shloka Om, (O Lord) keep me not in the unreality,
but lead me towards the reality (eternal of the self),
Om, (O Lord) keep me not in the darkness (of ignorance), but lead me towards the light (of spiritual knowledge),
Om, (O Lord) keep me not in the fear of death (due to the bondage of the mortal world), but lead me towards the immortality
Om (may there be) peace, peace, peace.
Light- House
Stands alone in ocean
Safe guards from troubles of sea
Symbol of trouble and suggests troublesome life
Intro to ‘To The Light-House’
Written by Virginia Woolf Form of work is ‘Novel’ Genre of work is ‘Stream of
Consciousness’ Written- 1926, London Published in- 1927 Anonymous Narrator
Defense of ‘Matriarchy’ One of the major theme is ‘Effects of
“Patriarchy” on the creative lives of women’
A patriarchy is a society which is a society which is controlled by the patria, the father, or more generally, men.
Instead of centering her novel around the violent abuses of power in a patriarchal society, Woolf centers her novel around gender roles produces on personalities and on family life.
“Society, being codified by man, decrees that woman is inferior; she can do away with this inferiority only by destroying the male's superiority.”
-Simone de Beauvoir
Self-realization in ‘To The Light-House’
Mrs. Caroline Ramsey
“One is not born woman, but becomes on.” Simon De
Beauvoir
Mr. Ramsey’s wife. Mother of eight children and a house
wife. A beautiful and loving woman. An artful hostess. Central figure of the novel. Bringing people together is her special
talent. She can beautifully manages the people
with her polite treatment especially those of a men. Pampering male ego Mr. Ramsay or James
She is a traditional woman of the Victorian time.
Her daughters are as raised as she was. Different treatment for sons and
daughter. She is a bridge between Father and
Children. An artist of a ‘Ramsey House’. She is a critical thinker- questions
herself and her motives and look open- eyed at her faults too.
A good notice taker of her husband’s strength and weaknesses.
She as a socially active helper- Charity- she loves to do. (prominent characteristic of ‘Victorian Womanhood’)
Woolf accords Mrs. Ramsey a great amount of dignity.
Rather than viewing her less than educated because she is not firmly educated, Woolf finds a special kind of reasoning in Mrs. Ramsey.
She lived a life with selflessness Her comparison with ‘Fisherman’
(subverted form of misogynic tale/myth)
She remains the true ‘Light-House’ of Ramsey family.
Ultimately, “Fifty pairs of eyes were not
enough to get round that one woman.’ (page 175)
Lily Briscoe “Man is defined as a
human being and a woman as a female - whenever she behaves as a human being she is said to imitate the male.”Simon De Beauvoir
A young single woman Friend of Ramseys An Artist (compared with Woolf’s sister-
Painter) Like many of Virginia Woolf’s main
Characters, she is. Having a modern eye-sight than the
traditional views of Mrs. Ramsey. Opposed with Tansley’s views-
“Women can’t write, women can’t paint. “they did nothing talk, talk, talk, eat, eat, eat.”
She is not a great artist- who achieved success.
She seems anti- social- the way she lives- not having lot of friends
Withal she feels the force of the social norms. She chooses to paint, not to marry Lily statistically more present than Mrs. Ramsey She sees Mrs. Ramsey as “unquestionably the
loveliest of people… the best perhaps” Yet she chafes at her imperiousness and she
laughs at her. Simultaneously she divines at her, “as a
treasures in the tombs of kings.” (simile for Mrs. Ramsay)
After death of Mrs. Ramsey She give ups from painting As she feels in half- love with Mrs.
Ramsey or the ideals of Mrs. Ramsey She at last- complete her painting- Mrs.
Ramsey’s portrait Lily paints what inspires her and what
condemns her as a woman artist
Difference between Mrs. Ramsey and Lily Briscoe
A Victorian Traditional Woman
A house-wife A kind and gentle Seeking of old
traditional matrimonial values
A Modern woman An Artist and Unmarried Out- spoken Firm on the way of
her ambitions
Conversation
“The Window”“Shut the doors, but open the
windows.”-Mrs. Ramsey
Symbolically this represents the idea of ‘Threshold’.
Lily: There is a difference between my and your condition. You have children and I don’t have, you have man and I don’t have. That you have man to pamper and serve.
Mrs. Ramsey: This is my household, this is my control. I am not serving, this is my wish to do. This shows Mrs. Ramsay’s ego towards her
household control. Self- Realization in Mrs. Ramsey through her
quarrel with Mr. Ramsey for renovating their house
“Time Passes” After death of Mrs. Ramsey, the house
becomes place of her memories Then everyone realizes her absence
even Mr. Ramsey and more of Lily observes the home without Mrs. Ramsey
She finds that beyond ten years of her death she still present there, her soul remains present in each thing oh the house.
“Dearest Briscoe! You’re a fool.” - Lily
Lily still struggling with the vision There is something missing At the end of the novel, she realizes
that Mrs. Ramsey is the soul of the house.
She put .Mrs. Ramsey in the mid of the house
Self- Realization in Mr. Ramsey and James
“To the Light-House” At the last part finally James’ wish
come true, they decides to go to the light-house.
Mr. Ramsey ‘s complement James got his desire, his light- house Mr. Ramsey’s realization of his
responsibilities towards his children in absence of Mrs. Ramsey.
Summing up…
In the novel Mrs. Ramsey stands as guiding star and she remains as a ‘spiritual bridge’ even after her death.
To The Light-House is a highly adventurous book in terms of its treatment of human consciousness.
Temporary illusions of unanswerable question, “ Who Knows what we are? What we
feel?
Thank You
Submitted to:Smt. S.B.Gardi Department of English,Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University,Bhavnagar, Gujarat,India.
