My Blog on Virginia Woolf's "To The Lighthouse"

Here my view on Virginia Woolf‘s ‘To The Lighthouse’ 

(1) In literature, stream of consciousness is a method of narration that describes in words the flow of thoughts in the minds of the characters. The term was coined was initially coined by a psychologist William James in his research “The Principles of Psychology”. The use of the stream of consciousness technique is a defining literary aspect of “To The Lighthouse”, along with the use of flashbacks-recollections, as well as the changing perspective and narrative voice from character to character. Then we can say that, this technique is too tough to know at first reading of the novel.”  This Technique of Stream of Consciousness, through they say about the highlight ideas, feelings and thoughts of people intentionally, complication of human relationship, and also class conflicts and all this things can be found. In this novel this technique to show the inner chaos of the common people by this novel, her narrative technique can be categorized as complex one, which indicates several features as enlisted below, complexities of human relationships and Scuffle of women in the society.

(2) After the study of the novel we can say that this novel “To the Lighthouse” is a tribute to Mrs. Ramsay and critique as per my perspective, we can say that Virginia Woolf gives more importance on her characters rather than others characters of the novel. Mrs. Ramsay also thinks as a Victorian Woman .so her mind work as Victorian rigidity. In the center part of the novel Mrs.Ramsay was dies but she remains alive into the heart of the readers. The relationship between Mrs Ramsay and Lily Brisco was artificial; Lily has been working on painting a picture of Mrs Ramsay, who is a hard subject to paint considering how much she is always distracted by her role as mother. That painting also Symbolizes woman’s struggle in patriarchal society. Against gender convention: “Women can’t paint or write”. The process of Lily’s painting throughout the novel can be seen as not only a symbol of the artistic dilemma faced by the modern artist, but specially o a female artist. So that Lily Briscoe described the character in the novel. In Mrs. Ramsay’s character we may also find things same like as  ‘Indian Nari’.She provides hospitality in better way , she also bridge in her family .


(3) The Lighthouse means a place which shows the way and warns of danger. That light symbolized the ray of goodness. It is symbolized like truth triumph over darkness. And also we can say that spiritual bridge to other people, and also titular significance. In the novel Lighthouse stands for Mrs Ramsay or narrator and The Lighthouse can be indicated as a Symbol of Ramsay’s Family. In this novel Woolf also present in the character of Lily Briscoe, this character through Woolf also presents the strength. And we can also say that family problem is not so painful rather than social problems. Therefore this novel can be a symbol of the family.

(4)  Mythical study of the novel ‘To The Lighthouse’, after
We can find two myths like Oedipus and pagan myth. This both myths are represented unconsciously in this novel. Oedipus myth we cannot see directly in the novel. In the novel Oedipus myth connected with the character of James who was youngest son of the Ramasy’s. His attraction towards his mother, He also loves his mother deeply and feels a murderous antipathy towards his father. So he was suffering from the Oedipus complex in this novel through James character. The Pagan myth includes mothers, daughters and wife. The Pagan myth presented importance of female role as woman is very much cared about her duty and played thrice role of mother, wife and daughter in this myth Rhea is presented as a mother, Demeter is presented as a wife and Persephone is presented as a daughter. These three roles of woman we can see in the role of Mrs.Ramsay so this myth is very near in this novel.

(5) As my perspective the meaning of the German term 'Künstlerroman', it is mean growth of an artist, and in other words we may say that struggle of an artist. In the novel we can find that growth of an artist through the character of Lilly Briscoe. And also we can see Lily’s character is somehow  struggle in her Art. So in this novel the character of Lily makes this novel as a ‘Kunstlerroman’.

Movie review on Midnight’s Children and The Reluctant Fundamentalist.

 What is Post-Colonialism.?  Post-colonialism means time after  colonialism. Post-colonialism is study of culture after the physical and political withdrawal of an oppressive power. Post colonialism rejects the dominance of western culture. It challenges Western Knowledge system about East.

Now, My respond of both film Midnight’s Children and The Reluctant Fundamentalist. we can also say that both film are related to the themes of postcolonial studies.

  Midnight’s Children

            Midnight’s Children one of the most much-admired novel by Salman Rushdie. He is Diasporic writer. Who is an Indian-born British essayist and fiction writer. He says about this topic ‘Midnight’s Children’- Indian pessimism. He gives ideas of historical fact and magic realism in novel.

            Midnight’s Children movie is luminously directed by Deepa Mehta, this movie is also based on this novel. The movie is a controversial , that has tragedy, romance and comedy . The movie has a dramatic and mysterious touch that gets you an entire picture of Indian’s journey through all its trials..

The movie is highlighting the two lives of two individual born at the stroke  of midnight when India achieved its independence. This movie take through all the ages beginning from the grandparents to  the children. Born , poor become rich, rich  become poor. Changing of the children plays  vital role in changing plot of the movie. Saleem becomes Shiva and Shiva becomes Saleem, and then movie turns around their lives. Son of rich becomes poor and poor boy suddenly becomes rich. Which is fine example of class conflict in India  at that time.

Here in the case of  Saleem and  shiva  I observed there is a crisis of  superiority , why it happened ? because one is by birth Muslim and one his Hindu . as we know that it is the time of independence, and there where  so many geographical problems takes place . yes it was the time of  partition . so on that base it clear .

In movie the Characters of Parvati, Shiva and Saleem  presents through  magic realism. Magic Realism is also plays vital role in making movie believable. If this technique want used then perhaps we Wont believe in the story. Through magic realism all children brought together in the movie, and it gives novelty to the movie and makes it more interesting.

Movie is also political allegory, presenting dark side of partition, then the war with Pakistan and Emergency. So it looks  like Rashdie as a outsider criticizing india. The scene of india in  the  movie is of slum, poverty which looks defaming india. It looks towards india like western people does.

The Reluctant Fundamentalist

            The Reluctant Fundamentalist  is novel by Pakistan born writer Mohsin Hamid. This movie is also based on this novel.

            The Reluctant Fundamentalist movie is brightly directed by Meera Nair Dir. The whole movie is talk about relations between East and west. The story of the movie narrates in flashback by Changez  Khan. The story of the movie is young Pakistani man is chasing corporate success .In this movie we can see that how has to reality between in film and  Reluctant Fundamentalist in this film main theme.

In this movie we can see the American political affairs and news about  that he watch T.V in shows 9/11 in America land the terrorist attacks to world trade center. That scene at all that fundamentalism and film focus on Changez is also Pakistani everything. This attack 9/11 makes him question all his value and he becomes a logical example of anti-capitalist morals and principal.

After the attack of terrorist in America we can see the how problem coming of Changez khan life in New York. Here we can see the term of Orientalism by Edward said. Orienatalism is a style of thought based an ontological and epistemological, distinction made between Orient- the Eastern part of Asia and it is opposite to occident. And movie also talk about the how western countries see the East countries, in movie Character of Changez Khan is say about what is real fact about the east countries. Also we can say that all Muslim are not terrorist, but whenever capture any terrorist it’s Muslim. So our mind concept that all Muslim are terrorist. After reading the term Orientalism our and also same part of world’s people change the concept of mind his all Muslim are not terrorist but they all are first human being.

He goes back to his roots in Lahore , but he now different person, taking on a different world. Now he become third person mixture of the Pakistani poet’s son and the New York businessman. Now a professor , he spend same time in this tea shop with his many faithful students.  He works as professor but American agents doubt them as terrorist. At the end of the movie, American realize that Changez is innocent.

So film challenges American theory of doubting muslim people. It gives voice to this people.