"To the Lighthouse"

Analytical Essay # 26508

English > Analysis
Literature > English
Women Studies > Feminism

A review of Virginia Woolf's book, "To the Lighthouse" focusing on the function of gender roles in the story.

1,575 words () | 0 sources | 2003 | United States

Published on: May 06, 2003

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the literary work by Virginia Woolf, "To the Lighthouse". The paper examines Woolf's use of gender roles through the characters of Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay as well as Lily. The topic of conflict between gender roles is presented. The paper outlines the way in which Woolf utilizes the characters of her story to introduce the women's movement into the mainstream.

From the Paper:

"Conflict between gender roles is as old as society itself. Traditionally, men have assumed the role of the breadwinner, while women stayed home to raise the children. Only until recently has our society questioned what a man's place in society should be, or a woman's. With "To the Lighthouse," Virginia Woolf brought the women's movement into the mainstream with her characters. Mrs. Ramsay, with her overly emotional frame of mind, fulfilled the female principle, while Mr. Ramsay, a self-professed philosopher, embodied the male principle with his rational point of view. Lily takes on Woolf's vision of the ideal blending between male and female roles, as a budding artist."