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Analysis Of Virginia Woolf's To The Lighthouse And The Waves

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In her novels, To the Lighthouse and The Waves, Virginia Woolf examines the thematic implications of the intricacies of human connection. Focusing on the natural progression of aging, Woolf exposes the rifts that form between once connected groups of people as years pass - both in terms of family and friends. The connections built in childhood seem to grow weaker as people grow older and become consumed with the details of their own lives. And yet, there are still instances of reconnection that occur during the shared experiences of mealtimes which function to rekindle past relationships. Food, thus functions as a connective device, bringing people together. Therefore, Woolf 's novels are deeply entrenched in considerations of the shifting nature of human connection - focusing on the unavoidable moments of disconnect as well as those that bring us closer together.
The strength of interpersonal bonds shift over the course of an individual 's life. During childhood our social circle is broader - including a large circle of friends and family the individual feels close to. For instance, in To the Lighthouse the story follows a family of "eight children" of varying ages (39). The youngest, James and Cam, are depicted as having the closest relationship with their mother - expressing their bonds through the time spent together. Because they are not yet in school they are constantly represented in the care of their mother - focusing her attention on their wellbeing. The novel

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