Woolf- Time

In chapter VI of Part 2 of To The Lighthouse, Woolfe uses seasons and brackets as an indicator of a passage of time. The chapter starts off with a detailed paragraph on the ending of spring which is directly followed by a bracketed passage about Prue being married off. This bracketed section is then followed by a new paragraph, opening with sentence pertaining to the seasons. On page 131, after it is revealed the Prue is to be married, the next paragraph starts with "As summer neared." The paragraph following this is also bracketed, and an unbiased third party narrates her death via childbirth. This follows the stated pattern as the paragraph following this starts "And now in the heat of summer" (132). Although this is not the same wording, it is understood that time is passing. This same format appears on the next page, but what is interesting is that the brackets are unrelated to the rest of the chapter.

The fact that these events, which are usually considered important to a story, are bracketed and unrelated shows that Woolf is focusing highly on time. All of the paragraphs in this first half of the chapter (aside from the bracketed) focus on the nature, the seasons and their aspects. Aside from the bracketed chapters, it is as if Woolfe forgets that humans exist. No speaker is identified, but the change in tone from the unbracketed to bracketed shows a disinterest. While all of the passages focusing on the nature are incredibly detailed and vivid, the brackets proclaiming the events of Prue and Andrew Ramsey are short, apathetic, and only voice opinions of others. Not only does this technique reveal her ability in moving through time, but also how insignificant life is. Though monumental events are occurring in the lives of humans, regardless of humanity, nature and time progress as if nothing but a blip on a screen has occurred. 

Jungian Theory and Mr. Ramsey

In Virginia Woolf’s novel To the Lighthouse, many words and themes are repeated. One such is the mentioning of the urn and the geraniums when the father’s view is shown. I wouldn’t think that something so simple should be such a highly reoccurring image unless it held some distinct value. A noticed trait of Mr. Ramsey’s is this need of validation and assurance of his actions, intelligence, and presence. This trait is shown explicitly in the words of Woolf, “He was a failure, he said… It was sympathy he wanted, to be assured of his genius… He must have sympathy. He must be assured that he too lived in the heart of life, was needed” (37).

One of the aspects of Jungian physiology is the discussion of the “shadow”. This shadow is, similar to Freudian, the aspects of the personality that the ego recognizes, but unlike Freud’s shadow, Jung’s shadow is much more neutral, not having a delegation of good vs. evil. This shadow is possessed by all people, and can be encountered through dreams and visions. By encountering the shadow, a person can develop in the process of individuation. This process is another aspect of Jungian psychology that is the development from the unconscious, allowing for growth in the psyche of a person.

Urns, usually lidded and holding in function, may be symbolic of the ever-present shadow of Mr. Ramsey. It is there, but covered and never interacted with, keeping him from achieving a state where he can encounter the shadow, which keeps individuation from occurring.

The use of the shadow also plays to Mr./ Ramsey’s desire to improve. Though too much interaction with the shadow can prove dangerous to the personality, (as mentioned above) by encountering the shadow, one allows for growth. Much of Mr. Ramsey’s piece addresses this desire to move forward, to surpass point R and get to point T if not Z (the letters hold no significance and are placeholders for achieving certain ‘levels’ of a heightened state of being).

How To Read- Thoughts

How To Read Literature Like A Professor is not like any book I have ever read. It is surprisingly entertaining, yet not a book. It could be written much like a text book, and yet it reads almost story-like. The author is definite about his point, yet he is sassy, witty, and capable of even funny (if not giggle worthy) examples. In all honesty, I liked reading Foster more than Lahiri, even though she wrote and actual story. Due to the book’s nature, it is hard to compare with anything really. It is factual and I did not have a hard time agreeing with most of Foster’s points. His casual way of speaking to the reader, all while maintaining an air of an educator (I can imagine this guy in a classroom) present something that- though could have easily been very dry and boring- is somewhat enjoyable to read. Am I still reading a book about how to read? Yes, but it is not a book that I had to drag myself through to get to the end. Honestly, I feel that I have already begun to employ some of these techniques (much like any AP student) but Foster’s explanations and examples gave me some conclusions to draw and certain ideas that, now that I know, will be easy to find in any book that I may read.