in his father's breast and killed him,”
This shows his inner violence. It is never spoken aloud.
Mrs. Ramsay’s Inner Thoughts: Mrs. Ramsay is the heart of the house. Through stream of consciousness, we see her mind. Mrs. Ramsay sits in a room. She thinks about her children, James, Cam, Prue, Andrew, Nancy, Roger, Jasper, and Rose. She feels their joy and worry. She thinks about the weather. She thinks about Paul Rayley and Minta Doyle. She helps arrange their marriage. She also cares for William Bankes and Lily Briscoe. At the dinner party, she connects everyone silently. She also feels her husband’s need. Her mind moves from one idea to another. She does not finish one thought before starting another. Woolf says about her,
“She had the whole of the other sex under her protection.”
Mr. Ramsay’s Inner Thoughts: Mr. Ramsay is a philosopher, but he feels insecure. His thoughts are shown again and again. He believes he cannot reach greatness. He thinks about fame and failure. He always needs sympathy. He asks it of Mrs. Ramsay. Later, after her death, on the morning of the Lighthouse trip, he asks it of Lily Briscoe. But she could not respond. Lily feels pity but stays silent. His mind is restless. Stream of consciousness makes us hear his inner emptiness.
Lily Briscoe's Inner Thoughts: Lily Briscoe is the artist in the novel. Her mind is full of doubts and hopes. Charles Tansley insults her, saying,
“Women can’t paint, women can’t write.”
His words echo in her head. She feels weak, but she continues to paint. She thinks of Mrs. Ramsay often. She tries to bring her back on canvas. She also observes Mr. Ramsay’s need, Cam’s fear, and James’s anger. In the last part, she paints while Mr. Ramsay, James, and Cam sail to the Lighthouse. At last, she finishes her picture and says,
“I have had my vision.”
This is her final thought, her victory.
Time Passes and Silent Thoughts: In the section Time Passes, Woolf uses pure stream of consciousness. The house becomes empty. Mrs. Ramsay dies. Andrew was killed in the war. Prue dies in childbirth. These events are not told directly. They are whispered in short sentences. The housekeeper, Mrs. McNab, also thinks about the past while cleaning. The whole flow of time is shown through impressions, not action.
Virginia Woolf uses stream of consciousness in every part of “To the Lighthouse”. James’s anger, Mrs. Ramsay’s care, Mr. Ramsay’s insecurity, Lily Briscoe’s painting, Cam’s fear, Paul and Minta’s romance, William Bankes’s thoughts, Charles Tansley’s pride, Augustus Carmichael’s quietness, all are revealed through their minds. The summer house, the dinner party, the war, and the final journey all come alive in inner voices. Woolf shows that life is not only about events. Life is also thoughts, memories, and feelings.
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