To the Lighthouse - Toudaihe (English spelling)

A full-length novel by the British female author Virginia Woolf. Published in 1927, it is set in the villa of the philosopher Ramsay family on the Isle of Skye. The first part, "The Window," takes place one afternoon and evening in September before the First World War. Mrs. Ramsay, who resembles the author's mother, is the key person who unites the people gathered at the house. In the conflict between the father, who hurts the feelings of James, the youngest son who longs to go to the lighthouse, with judgments based on facts, and the mother, who cares for him, it is shown that feelings are closer to the truth than facts. The second part, "Time Gone," takes place over the next ten years. Several characters from the first part, including the wife, pass away. The third part, "The Lighthouse," takes place one day in September ten years later. James, who had always hated his father, goes to the lighthouse with his aged father, and feels love for him as if guided by the memories of his mother. It is Woolf's most stable masterpiece.

[Hiroko Sato]

"To the Lighthouse" translated by Sakiko Nakamura (Shincho Bunko)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

イギリスの女流作家バージニア・ウルフの長編小説。1927年刊。哲学者ラムジー家のスカイ島の別荘が舞台。第一部「窓」は第一次世界大戦前の9月のある午後と夜。作者の母を思わせるラムジー夫人がこの家に集まった人々を結び付ける要(かなめ)である。灯台行きを熱望する末息子ジェームズの感情を、事実に基づく判断で傷つける父と、いたわる母の対立のなかに、事実よりも感性がより真実に近いことが示される。第二部「時は逝(ゆ)く」はその後の10年間。夫人を含む数人の第一部の人物が世を去る。第三部「灯台」は10年後の9月のある日。父を憎み続けていたジェームズが老いた父と灯台行きを果たし、母の記憶に導かれるように父に愛を感じる。ウルフの作品中もっとも安定した名作である。

［佐藤宏子］

『中村佐喜子訳『燈台へ』（新潮文庫）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例