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James becomes angry at this. He hates his father. Woolf says about him that,
“Had there been an axe handy……would have gashed a hole in his father's breast and killed him.”
His early dream is the seed of the whole novel.
Symbol of Family Conflict and Healing: The Lighthouse stands as a witness to family conflict. James hates his father for destroying hope. Cam also fears Mr. Ramsay’s temper. Later, in the last section, Mr. Ramsay goes to the Lighthouse with James and Cam. At first, the boat is full of anger and silence. But then Mr. Ramsay praises James. He says,
“Well done!" James had steered them like a born sailor”.
James feels recognized. Cam also feels love. Old bitterness melts away. The journey heals the broken family bond.
Connection with Mrs. Ramsay: The title is also linked with Mrs. Ramsay. She promised the trip. But she died before it happened. Her presence is felt even after death. Lily Briscoe paints her. James remembers her. Mr. Ramsay misses her love. Prue, Andrew, and other children remember her care. The Lighthouse keeps her memory alive. It stands steady though she is gone.
Artistic and Creative Vision: The title is important for Lily Briscoe. She starts a painting of Mrs. Ramsay and James in the summer house. Charles Tansley mocks her, saying,
“Women can’t paint, women can’t write.”
But Lily continues. She works on her canvas while Mr. Ramsay, James, and Cam sail. At the moment they reach the Lighthouse, Lily finishes her picture. She says,
“I have had my vision.”
The Lighthouse becomes the sign of artistic success. The journey in the boat matches Lily’s journey in art.
Time, Memory, and Continuity: The Lighthouse is unchanged, though time destroys everything else. In Time Passes, Mrs. Ramsay dies. Andrew dies in the war. Prue dies after childbirth. The summer house becomes empty. Mrs. McNab cleans it after ten years. Dust and weeds cover everything. But the Lighthouse still shines. James sees it again. It becomes the symbol of time, memory, and human continuity. Life passes, but the Lighthouse remains.
The title To the Lighthouse is very apt. The Lighthouse is more than a building. It is James’s dream, Mrs. Ramsay’s promise, family healing, memory of the dead, and Lily’s art. All characters and events, the summer house, dinner party, war, and final journey, lead to it. The story begins with hope for the Lighthouse and ends with its fulfillment.
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