To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf Transcending Death

A detailed Summary of To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf Transcending Death

Transcending Death in To the Lighthouse

The greatest obstacle to identifying a purpose for human life is the inevitability of

death. Why should a human being strive for any goal when death will always be the final

result of his striving, and after death he will be oblivious to any positive or negative effects

of his lifetime actions? Virginia Woolf tackles this dilemma in her novel To the Lighthouse

by presenting characters who attempt to transcend death either through accomplishments

in art and science, or by nurturing other human beings. Mr. Ramsay and Charles Tansley

take the path of intellectual accomplishment; Mrs. Ramsay represents the path of human

nurturing. Although the characters derive some comfort from their efforts to transcend

death, they are also tormented by the fear that they will not succeed in their strivings, and

come to doubt that successful transcendence is even possible. Woolf never resolves this

conflict in the novel. Instead, she maintains an ambivalence, illustrating both the benefits

and the pitfalls of the two transcendence strategies.

The dilemma of transcending death has traditionally been answered through belief

in a God who can grant salvation. Chri

through accomplishments, Mr. Ramsay begins to hedge his bets by considering the

soliloquy, she contemplates how her children will soon grow up and leave her care, and

behind him, "One perhaps." One in a generation. Is he to be blamed then if he is not that

difficulties. Even if one dedicates one's life to caring for people, one's influence will fade in

reader can tell that none is in a really enviable position. Woolf leaves it up to the reader to

transcending death, like the striving for accomplishments, is ultimately defeated by time.

Approximate Word count = 2022
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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