On The Resolution Of Conflicts:Thematic Analysis Of To The Lighthouse

As a master of stream of consciousness style and a pioneer of Western fe minist criticism,Virginia Woolf took great pains to depict the constantly changing inner world of various characters in her representative work To the Lighthouse.Particularly,women's reflection on their own plights and human beings' perception of the outside world are given detailed description in this novel.Thematic study of To the Lighthouse at home and abroad has mainly focused on the obvious conflicts,which are also believed to have perplexed Woolf all her life.However,it overlooks the author's deliberate indication of the possibility of unity in the efforts of different characters to resolve the conflicts,and the successful resolution hinted at the end of the novel.In the hope of providing a different interpretation of this novel,this thesis attempts to demonstrate that To the Lighthouse is not confined to reflecting conflicts,but rather aims at revealing the probability of the resolution of various conflicts through the portrayal of the efforts of the main characters to resolve the conflicts and the indication of the achievement of the final unity.The plot of To the Lighthouse is very simple,but two kinds of conflicts push forward its development: the conflict between women's pursuit of independence and the shackles of patriarchal tradition;mortal beings' desire for order and permanence,and the chaos of reality and the limitation of human life.Besides being an “Angel in the House”,Mrs.Ramsay also wants to investigate social problems;however,her passion and efforts are nothing more than laughingstock for other people.Lily is an independent person who never marries in order to persevere in the pursuit of painting.It appears that women cannot remain independent and charming at the same time.Furthermore,mortal beings attempt to find meaning and order in an everlasting world,while reality is full of chaos,disasters and deaths.In the face of formidable conflicts on different levels,characters endeavor to find the resolution within their ability instead of absolute submission.For instance,Mrs.Ramsay conscientiously plays the role of a married woman by preparing exquisite meals for her family and friends and endeavoring to create a happy atmosphere,but she also squeezes time out of the busy family life to visit poor families for her research.Lily remains single to paint freely,in the hope of representing reality through the work and achieving a kind of understanding of the reality during the process.With a clear knowledge of the insignificance of the contribution he might make in philosophy due to his lack of genius and limitation of his life-time,Mr.Ramsay is still determined to fight like a brave soldier until the last minute of his life.The peaceful happiness brought by the dinner has,as Mrs.Ramsay had hoped,been embedded in the memory of everyone;Mr.Ramsay's findings have contributed to the development of philosophy;and Lily has succeeded in representing the fleeting moment on the canvas.In spite of omnipresent conflicts,as long as human beings face up to them actively and strive to make achievement with inner peace,the resolution of those conflicts is highly probable.Through the portrayal of the characters' pursuit of harmony and eternity in the midst of various conflicts,Woolf reveals that individuals with inner peace and androgynous minds can resolve the conflicts and go beyond their mortality to be part of the eternity by leaving their imprint on the world.