The Good Old Days -Virginia Woolf’s To The Lighthouse And The Victorian Age

Virginia Woolf, an outstanding figure in using stream of consciousness, is widely recognized as a literary giant in British literature. However, Woolf is unique in writing style and thought compared with her coevals. With elegant wording, her works read like poems; with the dual impact of two ages and her family, she is characterized by radical and conservative thoughts. Hence, Woolf writes with Modern techniques, trying to reminisce the good old days rather than blindly abandoning the tradition descended from Victorian era on her innovative way. This thesis will reveal the implicit relation between the Victorian era and To the Lighthouse from the perspective of philosophy, aiming to demonstrate that Woolf, a Modern writer with an attempt of chasing the truth, keeps the resolution of seeking for a way to the spiritual paradise for Modern people in the good of the Victorian era.It develops into five parts.The introduction summarizes the current situation of studies on Virginia Woolf and introduces the objective, significance and framework of this thesis.The first chapter reads Mrs. Ramsay, the angel in the house. Seeking for the beauty is the ultimate target of human as a whole. Mrs. Ramsay, who practices the tradition of the Victorian era, is characterized as an angel, the avatar of beauty. She is the spiritual redeemer, and the appreciation of her refers to the reminiscence of the good old days as well as the knowledge of the beauty. In addition to illustrating the features of the Victorian era and the changes made in the Modem age, this chapter also goes to the beauty of Mrs. Ramsay and her impact on others.Then it moves to the philosophy of time. This part unfolds several significant moments from Woolf s Moments of Being, duration theory of Bergeson and philosophy of Heidegger. During the spiritual experience, characters address their issues through memory and imagination. With the unique arrangement of time, the glory of the Victorian era recurs and people are equipped with the knowledge of the intimate relation between the spiritual world and human.Chapter three goes to the progressive journey of Modern man. The recognition of the spiritual world gives rise to people’s desire of returning to the One, the ultimate truth. Lily’s picture and the passage to the lighthouse are embodiments of the voyage in which process Modern people relive the Victorian era and accept the Victorian tradition. With abandonment of their prejudice to each other, they are ready for the return to the sanctuary.In conclusion, Woolf observes the spiritual sterility and emotional coldness of Modern men with the influence of the ages. She reproduces the good old days in the characterization of Mrs. Ramsay, displays the significance of spirit through moments of being and memory, and leads people to the way towards ultimate truth. There is a message Woolf wants to pass on:Not until people embrace the good of the Victorian era. can they find out a new dwelling place for spirit.