A Deconstructionist Analysis of Virginia Woolf’s To The Lighthouse

One of the leading figures of modern literature, Virginia Woolf masterfully deals with the themes such as gender, class distinction, patriarchy, and perception of time. Published in 1927, To the Lighthouse stands out as a milestone of modern literature exploring the subjectivity of reality and transience of life by using techniques such as fragmented narrative structure and stream of consciousness. Jacques Derrida developed deconstruction, a theory that opposes fixed meaning, asserting that endless meanings are possible depending on interpretations. Deconstruction enables us to analyse texts broader than ever by defying binaries such as male vs. female and order vs. chaos, showing us that there is more to see in texts. The purpose of this article is to analyse how Woolf’s To the Lighthouse has opposed traditional literature norms and structure, defying both fixed meaning and binaries, magnificently narrating the themes, the subjectivity of reality, and the transience of life by reading with a deconstructionist approach.