To the Lighthouse 2

A detailed Summary of To the Lighthouse 2

In the novel, To the Lighthouse, Virginia Woolf illustrates the character of Mr. Ramsay, a husband and father of eight children. As a husband, he degrades and mentally abuses his wife, Mrs. Ramsay, and as a father, he disparages and psychologically injures his children. Yet, Mr. Ramsay has another side -- a second dimension. He carries the traits of a very compassionate and loving husband and a securing and nurturing father. Although Woolf depicts Mr. Ramsay as crude, brusque, and insensitive, he, nonetheless, desires happiness and welfare for his family.

Even though Mr. Ramsay frequently scolds and denounces Mrs. Ramsay, he still seeks happiness and comfort for his wife. For example, after Mrs. Ramsay lies to James about the next day's weather, "He [Mr. Ramsay] stamped his foot on the stone step. 'Damn you,' he said." (31) Mr. Ramsay devastates his wife's emotions. Because of a little lie, the temperamental Mr. Ramsay hurts, if not kills, Mrs. Ramsay's emotions. Still, right after the incident, Mr. Ramsay

Therefore, here Mr. Ramsay is portrayed as a sympathetic and caring husband that is "pained" by the expression of sorrow on his wife's face. Mr. Ramsay is sensitive to his wife's feelings and desires her well-being. Woolf illustrates the inconsistency of Mr. Ramsay's character through his and Mrs. Ramsay's interactions.

Virginia Woolf pictures the character of Mr. Ramsay as an authentic human being; he has a second-dimension that allows him to have both evil and sincere attributes. She does not write about either a very humble and generous man or a very insolent and cruel man; instead, Woolf gives the readers a real character with both traits that allow readers to understand the foibles of characters like Mr. Ramsay.

So stiffened and composed the lines of her face in a habit of sternness that when her husband passed... he could not help noting, the sternness at the heart of her beauty. It saddened him, and her remoteness pained him. (64)

self-reflects and "[he was] ashamed of that petulance [that he brought to his wife]." (32) Mr. R

Some common words found in the essay are:
Virginia Woolf, woolf illustrates, Two-Dimensional Character, ramsay crude, virginia woolf, character ramsay, ramsay sensitive, ramsay depicted, children ramsay, wife's feelings, 32 ramsay,

Approximate Word count = 708
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels

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To the Lighthouse 2

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