Lily’s Reflections in Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse Essay

Lilys Reflections in Virginia Woolfs To the LighthouseEmbodying the spirit of the female artist, Lily Briscoe in To the Lighthouse examines critical issues pertaining to her component in Virginia Woolfs novel. In Part Three of the novel, Mrs. Ramsays legacy plays an especially important role in Lilys thinking processes. Flowing by experimentation like the sea that day, Lilys thoughts encompass the novels themes of the passage of time, the role of the woman, and the role of the artist. Though time can break down material matter, its prodding cannot disperse vivid memories. In the beginning of Part Three, Lily feels that Mrs. Ramsays death signals the deadening of emotions over time, for she can feel nothing, nothing nothing that she can distil at all (125). Lily feels that without Mrs. Ramsays art of bringing people together, everything becomes aimless, chaotic and unreal (126). Lily echoes Mr. Ramsays sentiments of having perished and wishes Mrs. Ramsay were in charge of the ho usehold again (126). Although Lily is a friend of the Ramsays, she is deeply affected by the unravelling of the Ramsays family manner and remarks, The empty places. Such were some of the parts, but how bring them together? (126). Lily is able to solve this predicament at the end of the story however, for the moment, she can only imagine Mrs. Ramsay saying life stand still here, for this is the older womans way of play a moment into something permanent (138). Later in her minds eye, Lily sees Mrs. Ramsay through Williams eyes and thinks beauty had this penalty it came too readily, came too completely. It stilled life froze it. One forgot the little agitations the flush, the pallor, some queer distortion, some light or s... ...izes it on the canvas. Lily is no longer a passive woman confused around her artistic abilities. Times passage is inevitable, but Lily learns that she can match wits with time by using her artistic talents. Mrs. Ramsay had shown Lily that tim e can be stopped with beauty, but Lily opts for a more realistic capture of time with artwork that transcends all ages. As a female artist, Lily dashes Mrs. Ramsays hopes as puff up as overcomes the societal expectations for her to become married. Not only does Lily redefines what it means to be a woman, she also renews the image of the artist. Intertwining her reflections on time, womanhood, and artistry, Lily emerges as a more board person in the end of Woolfs novel To the Lighthouse. Work CitedWoolf, Virginia, To the Lighthouse. Edited by Susan Dick. Oxford, United Kingdom Blackwell Publishers 1992.