The Perceptive Nature of Lily Briscoe

Lilienfeld, Jane. "‘The Deceptiveness of Beauty’: Mother Love and Mother hate in To the Lighthouse." Twentieth Century Literature 23.3 (1977): 345. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 4 Dec. 2010.

In the article “Deceptiveness of Beauty: Mother Love and Mother hate in To the Lighthouse,” Jane Lilinfield discusses the contrasts between the mother figure of Mrs. Ramsay and Lily Briscoe. The purpose of the article is meant to show that Mrs. Ramsay and Lily Briscoe’s is somewhat a mother and daughter relationship, but Lily Briscoe is a non-conformist, rebellious daughter figure. Mrs. Ramsay is the epitome of a mother figure; she is consumed with love for her family and wishes Lily Briscoe to find love and supposed happiness by marrying a man and having a family of her own. The article discusses Mrs. Ramsay and her role as a mother figure in the novel. Lily Briscoe is an independent female who finds meaning in life through the process of painting. Lilinfield explores Lily Briscoe’s intuitive nature; Lily is an independent and perceptive woman who represents Virginia Woolf’s own feelings. The article emphasizes the significance of Lily Briscoe and reinforces the idea that Lily Briscoe is the focal point of the entire novel.

The article directly addresses our research question because it analyzes the importance of Lily Briscoe in the novel. Lily Briscoe first reflects her perceptive nature and creative process when she paints Mrs. Ramsay and James as a "purple triangle." The article discusses the idea that Lily Briscoe truly understands Mrs. Ramsay because Mrs. Ramsay’s sense of self “which invisible to others” as “a wedge, shaped, core of darkness.” Lilenfield conveys the idea that Lily Briscoe does not simply paint, she paints with a deep, philosophical understanding; Lily’s perceptive nature elevates her above the other characters in To the Lighthouse. Lilinfield expresses that Lily Briscoe, rightly reads about her relationship with Mr.Bankes. Mrs. Ramsay hopes that they will eventually marry one another, and Lily’s acknowledgement of Mrs. Ramsay’s intentions show that Lily, as a character, is all knowing and unique to all the other characters in the novel. Lilinfield points out that Lily Briscoe “is the only female character in the novel with the capability to resist Mrs. Ramsay’s urgings to marry.” In the article, the author points out that in one instance during the novel, Virginia Woolf describes Lily and even says “Lily Briscoe knew all that.” Lily Briscoe perceives Charles Tansley’s social inaptitude during dinner and Mrs. Ramsay’s desire to somehow include him. In part three of the novel, Lily Briscoe mourns for the sudden and unexpected death for Mrs. Ramsay. The author of the article describes Lily’s mourning process “equivalent to the chasm left of the empty space in her painting.” Lilinfield’s description emphasizes the importance of art and the creative process represented in To the Lighthouse. The author describes Lily’s understanding of Mrs. Ramsay’s desire to unite people as, “ Lily briefly recognizes that Mrs. Ramsay wanted to make permanent a harmony between people that Lily wanted to effect between the elements of her art.” Lily is only united and connected with her creation. Lily has a true understanding of the characters in the novel, especially Mrs. Ramsay. When Lily is the focal point of the narrative, the reader is able to gain an enhanced and perceptive view of the characters in To the Lighthouse.