Bassoff, Bruce. "Tables in Trees: Realsim in To The Lighthouse." Studies in the Novel 16.4 (1984): 424. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 4 Dec. 2010.
“Tables in Trees: Realism in To the Lighthouse,” reflects upon the significance of realism in To the Lighthouse. The author of the article, Bruce Bassoff, describes the writing style of Virginia Woolf and provides an in-depth analysis of the characters in the novel. The significance of Lily Briscoe, and her artistic process are analyzed in the article and provide true meaning to the development Lily Briscoe as a character in the novel. The character of Mrs. Ramsay is analyzed and shown as the mother of the home. The different approaches to harmony and unity are identified in the article; Bassoff demonstrates the differences between Mrs. Ramsay and Lily Briscoe. In the article, Bassoff explains the significance of the distant Lighthouse and it’s effects on the character’s in the novel. The author of the article explores the ideas of space and distance being a problem represented in the novel, especially in the presence of Lily Briscoe. Bassoff also explains the symbolic importance of “the tree,” contemplated by Lily during dinner. The idea that time is destructive is represented in the article; Bassoff suggests that only the creative process will heal the destructive force of time, and art is the only thing that lasts.
In the article, the author says that “Lily aims at harmony rather than point-by-point likeness; the author suggests that Lily “aims to see things in relation to the whole.” Lily does not view life the way the Ramsay’s or the rest of society does. Mrs. Ramsay is commited to unifiying her family. As a person, Lily Briscoe is distinguished from Mrs. Ramsay through her “commitment to her work”; Woolf's narration of Lily establsihes that she views life through artistic terms. Bassoff points out that Lily views Mr. Bankes as “a shade.” Lily’s entire purpose throughout the novel is to unify and harmonize her painting. The author describes Lily’s intent to unify her painting with a tree; the tree is symbolic of “stability,” and Mrs. Ramsay is even compared to a tree. Lily Briscoe will only complete her painting when “the beauty rolls itself up” and “empty flourishes will form into shape.” Through Lily’s painting, the author of the article shows that Lily will at last be able to “accept her need for transcendence” and understand “humanity.” Throughout the novel, Lily is constantly in search of a vision and Bassoff writes in order for Lily to do so “she must relinquish the idealized Mrs. Ramsay.” Lily realizes the significance of distance and space in the novel. She does experience a connection with Mrs. Ramsay, but Woolf's narration of Lily demonstrates Lily's intent to remain distant. Bassoff reinforces the idea that Lily must distance herself from grief and the mourning process in order to effectively complete the painting. Lily finally completes her painting and in the end, she is the one who harmonizes and unites the Ramsay family, not Mrs. Ramsay.
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