Abstract

As a well-known English novelist and paramount pioneer of modern feminist literature in the twentieth century, Virginia Woolf is renowned for her unique feminist thought which is embodied in all her literary works. Her feminist thought stresses the role of emotion to create the most beautiful human nature. The paper introduces the origin of Woolf’s feminism and discusses the integration of ration and emotion in Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse by analyzing three main characters: Mrs. Ramsay, Mr. Ramsay, and Lily Briscoe. Mrs. Ramsay faces the rational world with her emotional love. Mr. Ramsay is the representative of ration, but he accepts female’s emotional attitude in the end. Lily Briscoe respects the principle of painting just as the way in which Mr. Ramsay respects facts, but she finally achieves the combination of ration and emotion and finishes the painting of Mrs. Ramsay. In Woolf’s perspective, the only way to gain perfect human nature is to integrate ration and emotion.

Keywords: feminism; ration; emotion; integration

Contents

Abstract

摘  要

1. Introduction-1

1.1 The History of Feminism-1

1.2 Brief Introduction of Virginia Woolf and To the Lighthouse-1

1.2.1 About the Author-1

1.2.2 About To the lighthouse-1

1.3 Research both at Home and Abroad-1

2. Origin of Woolf’s Feminism-4

2.1 Influence of Her Family-4

2.2 Influence of the Society-4

3. Feminist Analysis of Three Main Characters-6

3.1 Mrs. Ramsay as the Angel in the House-6

3.1.1 Love for Her Children-6

3.1.2 Love for Friends-6

3.1.3 Love for Her Husband-6

3.2 The Psychological Change of Mr. Ramsay-7

3.2.1 Rational Attitude of Mr. Ramsay-7

3.2.2 The Integration of Ration and Emotion-7

3.3 Mental Growth of Lily Briscoe-8

3.3.1 Lily’s Confusion-8

3.3.2 Lily’s Spiritual Transcendence-8

4. Conclusion-10

References-11