To The Lighthouse

Both Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey think a lot about gender (particularly Mrs. Ramsey). What are their attitudes on gender, gender roles, and gendered work? How does Lily seem to think about gender differently? In what ways do any of these beliefs seem contemporary and in what ways old fashioned? How do you think of gender? Are there such things as gender roles? Is gender an important identity category for you? If so, why? If not, why not?

Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey’s guests think about their marital relationship a lot in the first section of the novel. What are some of their different perspectives and assumptions about the marriage? Do you think the Ramseys have a good marriage? Why or why not? Generally, what qualities do you associate with a good romantic partnership? With good friendships?

Much of Lily’s “storyline” in the first part of the novel centers on creative process, as she tries to paint Mrs. Ramsey and James sitting in the window. How is she challenged by this task? What seems to be frustrating her? How would you characterize her creative process? What creative endeavors do you pursue? What is your creative process like? Do you have creative challenges? What are they?

One of the functions of the second section of the novel is to inform readers that, in the years between the two days represented the first and third parts, Mrs. Ramsey and two of her children have died. How does Woolf indirectly represent the passage of time and the theme of death in this section? In other words, what images, symbols, or metaphors capture that idea of time and people passing? In your own life, what some images, symbols, and metaphors you associate with death? What do these reveal about your attitudes about death?

James’s desire to visit the lighthouse is an important feature of the first part of the novel. In the last section, he finally gets to sail out to it. However, his feelings about going and his reaction to the lighthouse itself are not the same. He recognizes this, but comes to believe that both versions are true. Why is that? What important understandings is James coming to about perspective and time? Have you experienced this before—the seeing something in adulthood that you understood or perceived differently as a child? What is that feeling like? What does it say about your perspective and the role of time and maturity in the way you see the world?

The book ends with Lily finishing the painting that she began ten years before, with some satisfaction. What does Lily seem to believe art is? What is it for? Do you agree with her? What role does making or consuming art play in your life?

Virginia Woolf loosely based To the Lighthouse on her parents, Julia and Leslie Stephen, and summers at their coastal home in Cornwall. Do some research about the Stephen family (including looking at pictures of the family and their home). What are some differences between Woolf’s actual family and experiences and the fictional ones she creates? Why change those aspects of the story? (Why, for instance, move the home from Cornwall to the Hebrides?) If you were to write fictionally about your own childhood and family, what elements would you change? What elements would you keep the same? Why?