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Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse (Presentation Notes)

The work's autobiographical roots, composition history, samples of contemporary reviews, a general history of criticism by decade, a particular history of the work's relationship to philosophy, and discussion questions.

Related Papers

Virginia Woolf Miscellany 86 (Fall 2014/Winter 2015): 19-21

Gerardo Rodríguez-Salas

Our aim in this article is to trace the projections of feminine friendship that we find in Virginia Woolf’s and Katherine Mansfield’s fictional work. As opposed to those critical readings that have seen an unequivocal specificity, operativity and even essentialism in feminine friendship as depicted in literary works by women, Woolf and Mansfield show, both in their actual relationship in real life and in their literary writings, the inadequacies and shortcomings of a specifically feminine mode of identification. Our argument is that in the two writers, bonds between female friends cannot be seen as independent of or impervious to male influence. In the case of Mansfield, the male presence works as a disruptive intrusion that prevents women from inventing alternative relations to prevailing hetero-reality. In the case of Woolf, the man is also a friend that expands the boundaries of friendship, which becomes a far-reaching, though also fragile and uncertain terrain. What is destructive in Mansfield becomes creative in Woolf.

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A general survey of Woolf's uses of flowers in her fiction, organized novel by novel.

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Ben Gambuzza

The idea that a reader can empathize with fictional characters and be engrossed in the reading experience goes back at least to Chaucer’s dream vision poems of the 14th Century. Traditionally, though, we tend to associate this phenomenon with Victorian fiction, which, as empathy theorist Suzanne Keen has shown, was thought to immerse readers in an entrancing reading experience. Current criticism tends to lean on the assumption that Modernist novels, like those of Joyce, Woolf, Conrad, and Ford, eschew empathy and engrossment with their reliance on formal experimentation. However, I argue that Ford Madox Ford and Virginia Woolf revised the aesthetic theories of Walter Pater and Joseph Conrad, and forged a new relationship between reader and text. Far from emotionally barren fiction, Ford and Woolf create affective fiction: while Ford bewilders us with the impossibility of engrossment or reader-character identification, Woolf’s phenomenology makes the reader “know” characters like never before. Readerly empathy and engrossment did not stop with Modernism, it just looked a little different.

Caroline Marie

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To the Lighthouse

Sep 03, 2014

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To the Lighthouse. Virginia Woolf. Background. Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) “pushed the light of English language a little further against darkness.” To the Lighthouse was written in 1927

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• summer home
• narrative mode
• art fiction
• literary style modernism
• 120 pages takes place

Presentation Transcript

To the lighthouse virginia woolf.

Background • Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) “pushed the light of English language a little further against darkness.” • To the Lighthouse was written in 1927 • It is a British novel written after the horrors of WWI (1914-1918) that decimated a generation of Britons • It encompasses (before, during, after) WWI • Woolf had many notable novels and essays such as Mrs. Dalloway, The Voyage Out, The Waves, and “A Room of One’s Own”

A Room of One’s Own • Essay/lecture in which Woolf directly addresses the difficulties of female artists and writers • She suggests that for a woman to create, she needs “500 pounds a year and a room of her own.” • Much of Woolf’s fiction and nonfiction was concerned with the difficulty of creativity itself, especially for women

Self in fiction: Autobiography • To the Lighthouse is substantially autobiographical • Woolf’s mother died when she was 13 leaving her devastated and struggling with emotional illness for much of her life • The character of Mrs. Ramsay helped Woolf to express her mother in art/fiction and helped her cope with the loss of a remarkable woman • Woolf’s father, Sir Leslie Stephen, is also much like the character of Mr. Ramsay—needy, philosophical, dictatorial, given to literary outbursts

Setting of the novel • A family summer home in the Hebrides—islands off the northwest coast of Scotland.

Characters • Mrs. Ramsay and Mr. Ramsay, their 8 children • Roger • Nancy • Prue (16) • Andrew (14) • Rose (10) • Jasper (8) • Cam (7) • James (6)

Characters continued • Guests at their summer home include • Charles Tansley (an aspiring philosopher/student) • Augustus Carmichael (a poet) • Lily Briscoe (the protagonist, an artist) • William Bankes (a vague scientist/botanist)

Literary style: modernism • Modernism (late 19th, early 20th Century) A literary movement that exploded with WWI. It reflects a society cast adrift by change. • A re-structuring of literature and the experience of reality it re-presents. (Art always attempts to 'imitate' or re-present reality; what changes is our understanding of what constitutes reality, and how that reality can best be re-presented, presented to the mind and senses most faithfully and fully.) Modernist literature is marked by a break with the sequential, developmental, cause-and-effect presentation of the 'reality' of realist fiction, toward a presentation of experience as layered, allusive, discontinuous; the use, to these ends, of fragmentation and juxtaposition, motif, symbol, allusion. • Language is no longer seen as transparent, something if used correctly allows us to 'see through' to reality: rather language is seen as a complex, nuanced site of our construction of the 'real'; language is 'thick', its multiple meanings and varied connotative forces are essential to our elusive, multiple, complex sense of and cultural construction of reality.

Literary Elements • Perspectivism: locating meaning from the viewpoint of the individual; the use of narrators located within the action of the fiction, experiencing from a personal, particular (as opposed to an omniscient, 'objective') perspective; the use of many voices, contrasts and contestations of perspective; the consequent disappearance of the omniscient narrator, especially as 'spokesperson' for the author • Impressionism: an emphasis on the process of perception and knowing: the use of devices (formal, linguistic, representational), to present more closely the texture or process or structure of knowing and perceiving.

Literary style/narrative mode • Stream of consciousness: a narrative mode where the thoughts of the speaker are placed before the reader without, necessarily, editing and organization • “and to follow her thought was like following a voice which speaks too quickly to be taken down by one’s pencil, and the voice was her own voice saying without prompting undeniable, everlasting, contradictory things”

Themes • What is reality? • “Is human life this? Is human life that? One never had time to think about it.” • “She was glad…to rest in the extreme obscurity of human relationships. Who knows what we are, what we feel? Who knows even at the moment of intimacy, This is knowledge?” • What lasts? • “The very stone one kicks with one’s boot will outlast Shakespeare.”

Themes continued • What creates meaning in the world? • “What is the meaning of life? That was all—a simple question; one that tended to close in on one with years. The great revelation had never come. The great revelation perhaps never did come. Instead there were little daily miracles, illuminations, matches struck unexpectedly in the dark”

Structure of the novel • The Window (about 120 pages) takes place in the space of one day and introduces all characters, setting, conflict (before WWI) • Time Passes (about 20 pages) covers a ten-year period of time in the middle of the novel in which WWI occurs • The Lighthouse (about 60 pages) covers the return to the summer home after ten years; many of the original characters resurface

How to read this novel • Allow yourself to be immersed in her words and what she is suggesting about impressions and reality • Do not dwell upon always having to know exactly what is going on. How often in life do YOU know exactly what is going on and what everyone else is thinking? • (parenthetical comments go between these delightful marks of punctuation and give the author opportunity to comment upon the actions and thoughts of the characters)

A work of art • The protagonist of the novel is an artist struggling to achieve her vision. The author of the novel is, too. • Art is often impressionistic by nature and asks you to feel and infer meaning. If it were all spelled out for you, it wouldn’t be very interesting. • You should know that this is my favorite book. If you do not understand the book, do not make the mistake of disparaging it. Mr. Ramsay wishes to disparage Shakespeare, you probably don’t want to emulate him. • I hope you get past Q. I have.

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Home / Novel / To the Lighthouse Symbols | Virginia Woolf

To the Lighthouse Symbols | Virginia Woolf

Linguistically, words are just symbols and their meanings are dependent on the situation as well as the knowledge of readers. Virginia Woolf uses lots of images as symbols in her novel To The Lighthouse. Symbols suggest something more than just the literal meaning. When a writer wants to convey a message in hidden words or more than one meaning in a single word, he uses the technique of symbolism. Rarely, any writer skips this technique of writing. This novel has great importance due to its symbolic significance. From the lighthouse to Lily Briscoe’s painting, everything suggests more than its literal meanings. 

It is not criticism but reality that the novel is a symbolic representation of themes of To the Lighthouse such as human nature. Every character, every object, every scene and every situation has a meaning attached to it. Readers should keep in mind that literal meanings of a character and object are not enough while studying To the Longhouse. Sea is not just a sea and the lighthouse is not merely a lighthouse; their out of sight meanings have importances of their own; there is no story in the novel; only a visit to the lighthouse cannot be considered a story. The presentation of the human psyche through the technique of stream of consciousness is its subject matter. 

Table of contents

Important symbols of to the lighthouse, symbolic title of the novel, symbol of guidance, symbolic representation of art, frequent sighting through window , the sea and the beach, characters as symbols in to the lighthouse, related question(s):.

Virginia Woolf word-for-word does not say anything to her readers; she indirectly makes suggestions. She is among those symbolists of the 19th century, who preferred an indirect method of presentation to write a story. Thus, each character reveals something and every object, with hidden meanings, makes suggestions. It depends on the readers how they perceive definitions from symbols instead of sensing only literal meanings of objects and characters. The list of symbols, used in this novel, is too long; however, some important ones that are obvious after bare reading the novel are:

The title of the novel To the lighthouse is its primary symbol. The whole story of the novel revolves around a trip to the lighthouse. It starts with an ambition to visit the lighthouse and ends with the fulfilment of the same but in hidden meanings it indicates something. The lighthouse is a symbol of guidance. In the past, lighthouses were built to guide the sailors. Far from the lighthouse, boats and ships might be seen. It was also built for protection, through which, the security of the people was ensured. The insistence to visit the lighthouse is actually a course of action to seek guidance and security. 

One of the most important characters, James Ramsay wants to visit the lighthouse because of his father’s rough and harsh attitude towards him and his siblings. Somewhere, in his mind, he lacks protection and security and his wish to go to the lighthouse suggests that he seeks the same. 

Similarly, Lily Briscoe cannot complete her painting because of a lack of guidance but after visiting the lighthouse, she, in the end, completes her painting while saying “I have my vision”.

Lighthouse, being a symbol of light, also guides Mr Ramsay. Usually, when a lost sailor sees a lighthouse from a far part of the sea, he becomes hopeful. Thus, the lighthouse also indicates hope. Mr Ramsay’s character, in this regard, is hit directly by this symbol. He is hopeless and fears that his work, one day, will be forgotten. He is realistic and wants his children to face reality. A visit to the lighthouse can give him hope, motivation and optimism.

Likewise, for Mrs Ramsay, the lighthouse is a symbol of truth. She consoles her children and says they will be able to visit the lighthouse tomorrow. Hence, symbolically, the lighthouse serves many purposes in this novel. To the Lighthouse is not merely a title of the novel but also one of its major symbols of hope, guidance and protection.

Virginia Woolf also symbolises the relationship between art and artist. Mainly, there are two artists; the first one is a painter whereas the second is a poet; to some extent, Mr Ramsay is also an artist. Lily Briscoe’s painting is notable in this regard. She is unable to illustrate her vision until she has a clear representation of life and reality. Her mind is mingled with extreme thoughts due to which she cannot convert her imagination into painting. In order to imitate life on the canvas, she needs peace of mind and harmony.

In the first part of the novel, she struggles to complete the painting. It symbolises that an artist needs peace of mind in order to portray the ability of the mind to be creative or resourceful either in the form of painting or words. She lacks harmony, which she gets at the end of the novel. If truth be told, the efforts of Lily Briscoe are the efforts of Virginia Woolf. In her early days of life, she also struggled a lot to write poetry. Thus, Lily Briscoe’s struggle to paint symbolises the struggles of the writer for writing poetry. In this way, art and artist, both are symbols in the novel To The Lighthouse.

In addition, the window is also a frequently used symbol in the novel. On a number of occasions, characters see through a window and imagine the sea, the stars, the landscapes and events of life. In this regard, the window shows a glimpse of reality. A window-like space between the characters is there and so as to get closer to someone, it is necessary to discover emotional strengths. Mrs Ramsay does the same. Her emotional strength brings her closer to others. On the other hand, Mr Ramsay lacks the same. 

Besides, a look through the window shows a glimpse of the outer world. Similarly, the actions and words of a person are like a window to approach his inner personality. In this way, time and again mention of windows in the novel indeed shows that it is one of the most prominent symbols of To the Lighthouse. 

The sea also symbolically refers to something. In fact, it is an important symbol of the novel. Mr Ramsay thinks that land is life and the sea is a destroyer. Mrs Ramsay, on the other hand, has the opposite opinion. She is a lady who brings positivity to every negative moment of life. Thus, her thinking remains positive throughout the whole novel. It is, therefore, her influence is there even after her death. The sea is a symbol of life According to her.

It depends on the readers to make a decision, which one of them is right regarding the sea but it is true that the writer uses the sea as a symbol. How a person perceives the sea, is always dependent on his attitude towards life. Sea, for some, is a symbol of destruction, whereas, for others, it symbolises life. Some perceive it like a wild beast and some like it for its wideness. Nevertheless, the sea is among the most important symbols of To the Lighthouse.

Each character of the novel symbolises something. The writer attaches meanings to them. None of the characters in the novel is extra or meaningless. Thus, everyone has his own importance. Mrs Ramsay is a symbol of hope and optimism. She always consoles her children by saying positive words to them though most of the time she tells lies. Mr Ramsay is realistic. He always makes his children aware of the harsh realities of life. He wants to tell them that life is difficult; his approach toward life is pessimistic; hence, he is a symbol of pessimism. Lily Briscoe and Carmichael are symbols of art. Ramsay’s family symbolises finding unity.

Virginia Woolf uses not only the objects but also the characters as symbols in the novel To the Lighthouse. She is well aware of the technique of symbolism , hence, she uses it freely and skillfully. Due to the symbols, the novel has extraordinary meanings. There is no denying the fact that the survival of this novel, to date, is dependent on its symbols. Words do not only convey literal meanings but suggest much more than that. A study of the novel suggests that every object and character has something more than literal meanings. The lighthouse, the sea and waves, the window, the day and night, the colours and even the characters are highly symbolic in this novel. 

Thus, it is not just criticism that in “To the Lighthouse ” the usual concerns of a novel—character and plot—have been subordinated to symbols and ideas but the truth.

Does it seem to you a just criticism that in To the Lighthouse the usual concerns of a novel—character and plot—have been sub-ordinated to symbols and ideas?

The Lighthouse, Explained

• The Lighthouse is a complex and ambiguous film that explores themes of isolation, mental health, and mythology.
• Director Robert Eggers draws inspiration from various sources, including Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft, to create a surreal and atmospheric narrative.
• The Lighthouse's ambiguous ending suggests that the characters' descent into madness is a consequence of their pursuit of forbidden knowledge.

Released in 2019, Robert Eggers' The Lighthouse astounded and confused viewers everywhere. The experimental film starring Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson charts the deteriorating mental states of two lighthouse keepers while on duty. However, the narrative atmosphere can only be described as supernaturally charged.

From the creator of The Witch , The Lighthouse followed suit as an indie horror film but made a name for itself with its ambitious creative direction. Along with its unique style, The Lighthouse is notable for its dark plot and rich themes. These elements combine to make a thrilling, unexpected, and perplexing movie. As such, there's a lot to unpack regarding The Lighthouse 's storyline and its deeper meaning. Thus, distilling something so complex and nuanced will be an uphill task for anyone involved.

Updated on April 21, by Ajay Aravind and Robert Vaux: Robert Eggers has become widely renowned for his cryptic storytelling, but that's just part of his directorial vision. The Northman , for instance, features a range of overlapping metaphors that film scholars are still trying to unravel. Eggers' The Lighthouse remains as mysterious as ever. As such, we've updated this feature with more information about his cinematic masterpiece, including a 2019 interview in which he discusses his influences and their effect on the film's surreal atmosphere. The article has also been updated to reflect CBR's current formatting guidelines.

What Is The Lighthouse About?

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The Lighthouse begins with Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson's characters , Thomas Wake and Ephraim Winslow, taking over a four-week supervision shift at an isolated lighthouse. Ephraim works under the long-standing keeper, Thomas and is expected to do most of the hard manual labor around the little island. Meanwhile, Thomas only tends to the light and doesn't let Ephraim go up there under any circumstances. When their four-week shift is over, a devastating storm prevents their tender boat from picking them up, leaving them stranded. After their rations disappear, they resort to only drinking alcohol and, eventually, turpentine.

Thomas and Ephraim's isolation in the lighthouse ultimately spells ruin for both. As the pair's time on the island increases, time seems to lose meaning, and they gradually plunge into madness. Ephraim, also revealed to be named Thomas Howard, becomes increasingly obsessed with a mermaid story he hears from his superior. At times, it appears as though Thomas Wake is gaslighting Winslow, causing the tension to escalate between the two of them. When Ephraim finally sees what is in the lighthouse, it immediately leads to his death.

The Themes & Symbolism Of The Lighthouse, Explained

Eggers revealed much of his creative inspiration for The Lighthouse in a 2019 interview with Rolling Stone. It started with an unfinished short story by Edgar Allan Poe titled "The Light-House" and included the likes of H.P. Lovecraft and Sarah Orne Jewitt. Of particular note is Samuel Taylor Coleridge, whose famous poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" recounts a sailor who becomes cursed when he kills an albatross.

That plays out in the film when Thomas Howard kills a seagull, which appears to be a catalyst for the misfortune that befalls them. Most notably, Eggers wanted the film to have a subjective, surreal quality, implying the existence of supernatural or otherworldly entities without actually coming out and saying it. Hollywood filmmaking tends to focus on clarity not to lose the audience as a given film tells its story. The Lighthouse defies that clarity by design, instead suggesting -- but never stating -- that much of what takes place onscreen is embellished by the protagonists' deteriorating mental state.

These qualities make The Lighthouse more than just a horror/thriller movie, even more than The Witch, which had a more overtly supernatural and readily understandable ending. The Lighthouse comes packed with complex symbolism and themes and a distinctive style that blurs the line between objective reality and the two men's perceptions. Eggers has a background in stage productions and decided to film in black-and-white with a unique aspect ratio of 1.19:1, all of which adds to the film's claustrophobic, gritty atmosphere.

There is also a strong psychological undercurrent in The Lighthouse , with Eggers heavily influenced by Carl Jung's work in psychoanalysis. Eggers plays with the Oedipal complex in the relationship between his protagonists, as Winslow is eventually driven to kill Thomas, a man who serves as a father figure of sorts. The film also incorporates some blatant phallic symbolism, with the actual lighthouse being the most literal example. Considering the film deals with two men alone on an island, themes of sexuality and masculinity are definitely included. This is all tied into the film's overarching mythological themes. The Lighthouse was inspired by sailor's myths and classical mythology, given the prominent presence of mermaids in seafaring folklore.

What Does Thomas Howard See in the Light?

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A seemingly impossible question, but one that The Lighthouse definitely left hanging, was what Thomas Howard sees in the blinding light. From a literal standpoint, it could be nothing more than an exceptionally bright light that one probably shouldn't stare at without risking blindness. Whatever he sees would, therefore, be a figment of his mental breakdown. However, since the film is heavily based on ancient mythology, the light becomes more of an abstract idea rather than a tangible concept.

Lovecraft's stories of otherworldly horrors emerging from the sea fold into that rather elegantly, as does Coleridge's "Ancient Mariner." But there are also a few major references to other Greek myths. During what seems to be a hallucination on Winslow's part, he sees Thomas adorned in tentacles and sea creatures, referencing Proteus, the god of prophecies who serves Poseidon. In addition, when Winslow finally sees what is in the lighthouse, he plummets to his death down the staircase, where his innards are eaten by seagulls.

This is a clear reference to the myth of Prometheus, who stole the gods' fire and suffered the consequence of having his liver eaten by an eagle every day. Given the movie's constant hints about mermaids, some viewers speculate that a mermaid secretly lives in the light. However, Eggers suggested it was more about the myth of Prometheus than anything else.

What Is The Lighthouse's Meaning?

If Thomas Howard is indeed based on Prometheus, then he certainly does defy a god (if Thomas Wake is meant to be Proteus) by going into the sacred lighthouse. For that, he's quickly and fatally punished. Throughout the film, Thomas Howard seeks answers about what happened to Wake's former partner. When he finally looks into the light, he sees everything -- cosmic truths and the nature of the universe, hidden from him the whole time. Like any human, Winslow couldn't handle this eternal knowledge and was delivered to his death so that the truth could remain hidden.

That's well in keeping with the likes of Poe and Lovecraft and countless myths about humans transgressing natural boundaries and paying the price. While this is certainly all speculation, Eggers must be in the know. In an interview with Vox , he revealed, "Last night at a screening, someone asked me, 'Why didn't you photograph what Rob [Pattinson] sees at the end of the movie?' And I said, 'Because if you saw it, that same fate would befall you.'" Eggers ultimately leaves the ending to the viewer's interpretation, like any good myth.

With all of this information, there is still no concrete answer to what The Lighthouse , its stories, or the mystery of the sea shanties truly mean. That's very much by design, and while strong themes revolve around the trials and tribulations of human nature, the film's ambiguous ending leaves the viewer to draw their own conclusions. Perhaps Thomas Wake is a god since he could stare into the light repeatedly and survive. Or maybe he has been slowly driven to delirium by the sight, causing him to drive his partners into a disturbed state of mind as well.

Overall, it's a fantastic film that raises several complex questions, leaving viewers hungry for answers. The deliberate enigma of the ending helps make it so memorable, keeping its mysteries intact and allowing viewers to decide what it all means for themselves.

The Lighthouse

Two lighthouse keepers try to maintain their sanity while living on a remote and mysterious New England island in the 1890s.

Release Date October 18, 2019

Director Robert Eggers

Cast Willem Dafoe, Robert Pattinson

Runtime 109 minutes

Things To Do | Memorial Day 2024: South Florida to honor its…

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Subscriber only, things to do | memorial day 2024: south florida to honor its fallen with special ceremonies, wreath presentations, flag plantings and more.

Did you know the poppy has become known as the red flower of remembrance? The Boca Raton-based Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10556 and other veterans’ organizations hand out silk or crepe-paper versions of these vibrant flowers every Memorial Day weekend in exchange for donations to benefit disabled veterans as well as rehabilitation and service programs.

VFW Post 10556 also organizes a ceremony at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Boca Raton on the holiday every year, featuring color guards, a national anthem singer, guest speakers, a bagpiper, wreath ceremony, rifle volley, and the audience singing along to “God Bless America.”

“We invite all veterans and their families as well as the general public to show their appreciation for the memory of those members of our military who nobly served and made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the United States of America in the many wars and conflicts that have been fought,” said VFW Post 10556 Cmdr. Barry Goldin. “Their memory remains in the hearts of all of us and their family and friends.”

In Coral Springs, U.S. Army veteran Sandi Winters will be the keynote speaker during a city ceremony on Monday, May 27, also at Veteran’s Park. She spent three years in Seoul, South Korea, working as a civilian employee for the Korean Ministry of National Defense helping to build an Armed Forces Korea Network Station.

Winters moved to Florida in 2003, serving as vice commander of American Legion Post 277 in Boca Raton. She’s currently a member of the 142nd Post in Pompano Beach and the Veterans Coalition of Coral Springs, a volunteer at the VA Clinic in Sunrise, and regent of the Lighthouse Point Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution.

“Our Memorial Day Ceremony is a solemn but an important event for our local military community, because it affords us the opportunity to reflect and remember our fallen heroes together as one,” Coral Springs Mayor Scott Brook said in a statement. “May the brave servicemen and women who sacrificed their lives for our freedom always live on in our hearts and minds as we gather to remember and honor them.”

Here’s our city-by-city guide to Memorial Day events happening in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

BROWARD COUNTY 

Hollywood 

• A Salute to the Fallen Memorial Day Community Event is set from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 25, at Boulevard Heights Community Center Amphitheater, 6770 Garfield St. It will include food vendors and music; bring a blanket or chair. Single-use plastics are prohibited. Visit hollywoodfl.org .

Coconut Creek

• Hosted by the City of Coconut Creek Parks and Recreation Department, this Memorial Day Ceremony will feature speakers and dignitaries at 9 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Veterans Park, 3550 Lyons Road. In the event of bad weather, the ceremony will take place in the Recreation Complex, 4455 Sol Press Blvd. Visit coconutcreek.net .

Coral Springs

•  The city of Coral Springs, in partnership with the Veterans Coalition of Coral Springs, will have a Memorial Day Ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Veteran’s Park, 8601 Royal Palm Blvd. U.S. Army veteran Sandi Winters is the keynote speaker. The event includes a presentation of colors and wreath placing by the Coral Springs Civil Air Patrol, salute volley and “Taps” performed by the Coral Springs Police Honor Guard. In case of bad weather, the ceremony will be moved to the Coral Springs Gymnasium, 2501 Coral Springs Drive. Visit coralsprings.gov .

• The town’s Memorial Day Parade will step off at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 27, just west of the Davie Fire Administration building, 6901 Orange Drive. The route continues east on Orange Drive to Southwest 65th Way and then north to the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds, 4201 Rodeo Way. The Memorial Day Ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the Rodeo Grounds, featuring guest speakers, town dignitaries, presentation of colors, folding and presentation of the U.S. flag, among other activities. Flags will be available to purchase for $1 before the ceremony. During the ceremony flags (purchased or brought) can be presented to be placed on veterans’ graves. Visit davie-fl.gov .

Deerfield Beach

• The city and the American Legion’s Memorial Day Ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday, May 27, at the Braithwaite Center for Active Aging, 325 NW Second Ave., will honor and salute the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, focusing on those who gave their lives in service to the country. Visit deerfield-beach.com .

Fort Lauderdale

• It will be a day for remembering at the city’s Memorial Day Ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Lauderdale Memorial Park Cemetery, 2001 SW Fourth Ave. With music from the Fort Lauderdale Symphonic Winds with James Perkowski, the ceremony also includes an opening hymn, invocation, parade of colors and dove release, among other traditions. Visit parks.fortlauderdale.gov .
• The city and the William C. Morris American Legion Post 36 will have a Memorial Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday, May 27, at the Sandy Nininger Statue on the Riverwalk next to the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. Other participating groups include Sons of American Legion Squad 36, Ladies Auxiliary Unit 36, Robert Bethel American Legion Post 220, 82nd Airborne Veterans, and American Veterans for Equal Rights. Free parking will be available in the Broward Center garage. Visit ftlcity.info/memorialday24 .
• The Northwest Lauderhill Neighbors Association and Commissioner S. Ray Martin are inviting military families who have lost loved ones to a Memorial Day Service from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Veterans Park, 7600 NW 50th St. Families who would like to participate and say the name of their loved one should arrive by 8:10 a.m. to be seated. Visit lauderhill-fl.gov .
• The city is having its Memorial Day Ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Veterans Memorial Park, 7044 NW First St. Visit margatefl.com .
• The city will honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice during a Memorial Day Ceremony from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, May 27, at Veterans Memorial Park, 6405 Arbor Drive. Visit memorialdaymiramar.eventbrite.com .

Oakland Park

• The city and the American Legion are partnering for a Memorial Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday, May 27, at the American Legion Post 222, 4250 NE Fifth Ave., with city leaders and dignitaries. Visit oaklandparkfl.gov .
• A formal Memorial Day Ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 27, will be followed by a patriotic concert with speakers and food trucks at Pine Trails Park Amphitheatre, 10561 Trails End. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Visit cityofparkland.org/memorial , or call 954-757-4215.

Pembroke Pines

• The city’s Memorial Day Ceremony is set for 9 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Fletcher Park, 7900 Johnson St. It will feature speakers, a presentation of colors honoring veterans and a wreath placing. A live feed of the ceremony will be available on Facebook.com/cityofpembrokepines or @cityofppines on Instagram. Visit ppines.com .
• The city’s Memorial Day Service will start at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Veterans Park, 1776 Lauderdale W. Drive. The service will be livestreamed on Facebook.com/CityofPlantationFL . Visit plantation.org .

Pompano Beach

• Put on by the Parks & Recreation Department in collaboration with Public Works, the Memorial Day Parade begins at 10 a.m. Monday, May 27, at McNab Park, 2250 E. Atlantic Blvd., and concludes at the Pompano Beach Cemetery, 400 SE 23rd Ave. A Memorial Day Ceremony afterward will honor veterans, military service members and their families. Visit pompanobeachfl.gov .
• A wreath placement, speakers and the presentation of colors are planned for the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Sunrise Civic Center Theatre, 10610 W. Oakland Park Blvd. It is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Monday, May 27. Visit sunrisefl.gov .

• The city’s Memorial Day Ceremony — set for 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Veterans’ Memorial Park, 7825 Southgate Blvd. — will feature a keynote address by Vietnam veteran Levoyd Williams, an Army staff sergeant in the Americal Division who was awarded the Bronze Star for his service. The program will also include a presentation of colors led by Tamarac Fire Rescue, vocalist Chantal Deshaies singing the national anthem, a wreath-laying ceremony and a bagpipe performance of “Amazing Grace.” Visit tamarac.org .

PALM BEACH COUNTY

Boynton Beach

• The Boynton Beach Veterans Task Force will continue its tradition of placing flags on veterans’ graves during its Memorial Day Flag Planting from 8 to 11 a.m. Friday, May 24, at Boynton Beach Memorial Park and Mausoleum, 1611 S. Seacrest Blvd. To volunteer, email [email protected] . Visit boynton-beach.org .
• Also presented by the Boynton Beach Veterans Task Force, a Memorial Day Ceremony will take place from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 26, at Memorial Park, 1611 S. Seacrest Blvd. The program will take place near the mausoleum under the overhang area. Tents and seating will be available. Visit boynton-beach.org .

Delray Beach

• The city, American Legion Post 65 and American Legion Post 188 will honoring the men and women who sacrificed their lives while serving in the Armed Forces during a Memorial Day Ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Delray Beach Memorial Gardens, 901 SW 10th St. Visit delraybeachfl.gov .

Lake Worth Beach 

• Flags for Fallen Vets will be placing markers at grave sites starting at 8:45 a.m. Sunday, May 26, at the South Florida National Cemetery, 6501 S. State Road 7. Visit flagsforfallenvets.com .

• The Memorial Day Ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday, May 27, at the Boca Raton Cemetery, 451 SW Fourth Ave., will feature multiple speakers, including Bob Slone, veteran Air Force sergeant, American Legion Post 277 commander; Jonathan Oakley, retired U.S. Marine, senior director of Mission United ; Sally Nemes, Estahakee Chapter NSDAR regent; and Cary Reichbach, U.S. Army veteran, founder of Grey Team . Visit myboca.us/1470/Memorial-Day .
• The city is also offering a free Memorial Day Concert featuring The American Sirens from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, May 27, at Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real. The performance will include patriotic songs and American favorites. Bring a chair or blanket; chair rental is $5 and free for active military, veterans and Gold Star families. Refreshments will be available for purchase, with coolers and outside alcoholic beverages prohibited. Visit myboca.us/1470/Memorial-Day .
• The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10556 will present its annual Memorial Day Program at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Veteran’s Memorial Park, 9400 W. Palmetto Park Road. The event will have a procession of colors, speakers, a wreath ceremony and patriotic music. A livestream of the program will be on Facebook.com/pbcparks .

Lantana 

• The 19th annual Forgotten Soldiers Outreach’s A Day to Remember will honor fallen service members at 11:50 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Palm Beach Memorial Park Cemetery, 3691 N. Seacrest Blvd. The Memorial Day service will include massing of colors, wreath presentations, POW/MIA ceremony, USVII torpedo display, a dove release and patriotic music. Traci L. Caicedo, a U. S. Army veteran and Florida National Guard member, is the keynote speaker, and former news anchor and Army veteran Jim Sackett will serve as emcee. Visit forgottensoldiers.org .

Riviera Beach

• The city will have a moment of remembrance and gratitude ceremony during its Memorial Day Tribute at 11 a.m. Friday, May 24 at Bicentennial Park Marina Village, 190 E. 13th St. Visit rivierabch.com .

Royal Palm Beach

• The village’s Memorial Day Ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Veterans Park Amphitheater, 1036 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. Visit royalpalmbeachfl.gov .
• A Memorial Day Mass will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Monday, May 27, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery, Outdoor Chapel, 10941 Southern Blvd. The mass will be offered for all who died in service, and there will also be a special military tribute to those who have served. A limited amount of seating will be provided, but attendees can bring their own chair. Visit ourqueen.org .

• Presented by the village of Wellington and the American Legion Post 390. veterans are invited to walk in the Memorial Day Parade starting at 8:15 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Wellington Village Hall, 12300 Forest Hill Blvd. The Memorial Day Ceremony will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial, 11848 Forest Hill Blvd. Call Michelle Garvey at 561-791-4082 to participate in the parade or ceremony. Visit wellingtonfl.gov .

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To the Lighthouse

Virginia woolf, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Though the novel’s stream of consciousness jumps from perspective to perspective, the theme of gender remains in focus as each character considers gender roles and relations from his or her own standpoint. Mrs. Ramsey delights in her womanhood, successfully fulfilling the traditional female roles of caregiver, homemaker, beauty, comforter of men. Lily , on the other hand, resents those same traditional roles, resisting the pressure to fill them and then, when she succeeds in such resistance, feeling her defiant pride undercut by anxiety and self-doubt. Having successfully refused to give Mr. Ramsay the female sympathy he craves in The Lighthouse, for example, Lily thinks she must be a failure as a woman and, wracked by regret, spends the rest of the morning trying to make it up to him. Among the male characters, Mr. Tansley and Mr. Ramsay aspire to strength, chivalry, and intellectualism, trying to inhabit the traditional male role of female protector and evincing an enduring prejudice against female “irrationality” and “simplicity.” Still, even as the men look down on women, they depend on them. Mr. Tansley and Mr. Ramsay are both utterly reliant on Mrs. Ramsay and other female characters for praise and crave female sympathy to keep their egos afloat. Even when Mr. Ramsay recognizes this need as a weakness in himself, he remains unable to overcome it and thus demands of Lily in The Lighthouse the same sort of support he’d demanded from his wife ten years earlier in The Window.

Aside from considering men and women’s individual gender roles, the novel also considers the gender relations within a marriage and presents two models of domestic union. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay represent the conventional ideal (indeed, Lily thinks they have suddenly transcended themselves and become a symbol as they stand on the lawn). Though the marriage of course possesses its gender-bending quirks—Mr. Ramsay is emotionally needier, Mrs. Ramsay, more emotionally restrained—it generally operates as a conventional heterosexual romantic partnership: Mr. Ramsey is the “rational” breadwinner, Mrs. Ramsey the “comforting” homemaker. They love one another deeply and act as a team. Within this model, both are happy. Mrs. Ramsay especially praises the virtues of marriage and her eager matchmaking attempts to set up all single characters in a marriage like hers.

Though not seen first-hand, Minta and Paul ’s marriage as imagined by Lily in The Lighthouse presents a point of contrast with the Ramsay marriage. It’s hinted in The Window that Minta is not entirely happy about being betrothed to Paul, and the subsequent marriage is rife with struggle and argument. Yet, over the years, relations between Paul and Minta are repaired by something that would traditionally be considered a marriage disaster: Paul takes a mistress and, thereafter, he and Minta are a team again. Remembering Mrs. Ramsay in The Lighthouse, Lily imagines holding up the example of Minta and Paul as well as of her own contented, unmarried life as evidence that Mrs. Ramsay was wrong to advocate so single-mindedly for conventional marriages. Indeed, the novel presents marriage and gender alike as complex, continued negotiations between the sexes, each facing a set of expectations that seldom fit but are nevertheless worked around, worked through, and reinvented.

Gender ThemeTracker

Gender Quotes in To the Lighthouse

Indeed, she had the whole of the other sex under her protection; for reasons she could not explain, for their chivalry and valour, for the fact that they negotiated treaties, ruled India, controlled finance; finally for an attitude towards herself which no woman could fail to find agreeable, something trustful, childlike, reverential…

…it was only in silence, looking up from their plates, after she had spoken so severely about Charles Tansley, that her daughters—Prue, Nancy, Rose—could sport with infidel ideas which they had brewed for themselves of a life different from hers; in Paris, perhaps; a wilder life; not always taking care of some man or other; for there was in all their minds a mute questioning of deference and chivalry, of the Bank of England and the Indian Empire, of ringed fingers and lace, though to them all there was something in this of the essence of beauty, which called out the manliness in their girlish hearts, and made them, as they sat at table beneath their mother’s eyes, honour her strange severity, her extreme courtesy…

Charles Tansley felt an extraordinary pride; felt the wind and the cyclamen and the violets for he was walking with a beautiful woman for the first time in his life. He had hold of her bag.

The extraordinary irrationality of [Mrs. Ramsay’s] remark, the folly of women’s minds enraged [Mr. Ramsay]. He had ridden through the valley of death, been shattered and shivered; and now she flew in the face of facts, made his children hope what was utterly out of the question, in effect, told lies.

To pursue truth with such astonishing lack of consideration for other people’s feelings, to rend the thin veils of civilsation so wantonly, so brutally, was to [Mrs. Ramsay] so horrible an outrage of human decency that, without replying, dazed and blinded, she bent her head as if to let the pelt of jagged hail, the drench of dirty water, bespatter her unrebuked.

…the arid scimitar of the male, which smote mercilessly, again and again, demanding sympathy.

[Lily] took shelter from the reverence which covered all women; she felt herself praised. Let [Mr. Bankes] gaze; she would steal a look at her picture.

…there issued from [Mr. Ramsay] such a groan that any other woman in the whole world would have done something, said something—all except myself, thought Lily, girding at herself bitterly, who am not a woman, but a peevish, ill-tempered, dried-up old maid presumably.