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To the lighthouse thinking activity



2. Do you agree: "The novel is both the tribute and critique of Mrs. Ramsay"? Can we read Mrs. R in context of the idea of Ideal Indian Woman - Karyeshu dasi, Karaneshu manthri; Bhojeshu mata, Shayaneshu rambha; Kshamayeshu dharithri, Roopeshu lakshmi; Satkarma yukta, Kuladharma pathni. )

Yes, the novel can be read as tribute and critique of Mrs. Ramsay. In novel Mr. Ramsay’s character is portrayed as caring figure who take care of everyone. Husband, children and guests. After her death also everyone remember her and summer house becomes desolate. Mr. Ramsay goes to other women for sympathy like Lily Briscoe. Lily Briscoe’s thoughts were different than Mrs. Ramsay, but she feels isolate after Mrs. Ramsay’s death and wants to finish her painting even after ten years. These things suggest that Mrs. Ramsay had special importance in everybody’s life.
She is like ideal Indian women. She does not go against husband’s wishes. She takes care of everyone, she is very good cook, she is loyal to husband, though she could not tell her husband she loves him, she loves her husband deeply. These all quality makes her ideal woman.

3.Considering symbolically, does the Lighthouse stand for Mrs. Ramsay or the narrator

 Lighthouse is a symbol for giving light to everyone, guide to everyone who is lost. In the novel Mrs. Ramsay play role like lighthouse. She takes care of husband, tells stories every afternoon to James that he grew well and that’s why James loves mother and hates father. She also advises Lily to Marry. She also takes care of other who comes there. It is she who was spirit of house and that why everyone miss her after her death. So lighthouse symbolically suggests Mrs. Ramsay.

7. You have compared the 'beginning' and the 'ending' of the novel and the film adaptation of the novel directed by Colin Gregg. Do you think that the novel is more poignant than the movie? If yes, do you ascribe the fact that the power of words is much greater than that of the screen / visuals?

  Novel’s one of the major characteristic is its length. So, in movie adaptation many parts have to cut. In To the lighthouse movie adaptation by Colin Gregg, novel’s beginning comes in between. In movies, notice expressions and read them becomes very important while in novel every expression have been described by words, no chance miss them. What character thinks that also can write with detail in books while in movies what characters thinks is show by expressions. So if we miss that what really character think or feel can never understand. In this case reading of book becomes more important.

8.How do you interpret the last line of the novel (It was done; it was finished.
Yes, she thought, laying down her brush in extreme fatigue, I have had my vision.) with reference to the ending of the film (After the final stroke on the canvass with finishing touch, Lily walks inside the house. As she goes ante-chamber, the light and dark shade makes his face play hide-and-seek. She climbs stairs, puts her brush aside, walks through the dark and light to enter her room. Gently closes the door - speaks: "Closed doors, open windows" - lies on the bed and with some sort of satisfaction utters: "Dearest Briscoe, you are a fool".)

 These last lines suggest that Briscoe realized that Mrs. Ramsay was not totally wrong. Close the doors but open the windows. Though she thought marriage is not necessary, marriage and family is important also.  In film before making final stroke she sees Mrs. Ramsay and James wandering happily in garden. She also might want live that life. So, that can be her vision. Going inside the room, leaving brush somewhere, and on bed saying Briscoe, you are a fool suggests that Mrs. Ramsay was right. Now she has her vision.

9.What does the catalogue named as 'Army and Navy' signify? What does cutting of 'Refrigerator'  signify?

 Army and navy catalog signifies time of war. Refrigerator symbolizes preservation of culture. In novel Mrs. Ramsay is traditional housewife. Guiding James while cutting refrigerator suggests that she wants other also to preserve culture, for example she suggests Lily to marry.

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