INTEGRATION OF FRAGMENTATIONS IN VIRGINIA WOOLF'S TO THE LIGHTHOUSE

Abstract

Modernism, which emerged in the late 19th century and took effect sharply in the early 20th century, paralyzed all previous movements. This movement, offering a new perspective on literature, culture, and politics, rejected the past and supported novelty in an original context. Additionaly, it opened the door to novelty in literature. Literary works were written in a different style, both in content and form. More experimental, non-linear narratives and works examining the inner world of the characters came to the fore instead of simple, superficial, standardized works which were examples of the old tradition. Concepts such as stream of consciousness, fragmentations, deep pessimism, and involving the reader in the text became important details of literature. By using these points, the authors tried to reflect both the period they lived in and their own spiritual lives in the works. The First World War, which broke out at the beginning of the 20th century and profoundly affected the whole world, shaped literature as well. Writers who witnessed the war began to take their subject matters from the war and describe the war’s devastating effects. One of these writers is Virginia Woolf, a pioneer of modern literature. The psychological disorders and a turbulent life experienced by Woolf as well as the chaos of the period had a deep impact on her themes and modes of thinking. The diaries, essays, and novels she wrote bear the traces of the period. In addition, she masterfully reflects the complexity of her inner world in the works. Using the stream of consciousness technique, the analysis of the characters' inner world, and the fragmentation magnificently, Woolf constructs the plot in this regard. Her work To the Lighthouse, written in 1927, is one of the cornerstones of modern literature. There are three parts that make up the book: The Window, Time Passes, and The Lighthouse. What stand out as striking elements in the work are the contrasts, inconsistencies, disagreements and fragmentations among the characters. Fragmentation, an important writing feature of Virginia Woolf, has an imortant place in the novel. But Woolf eliminates the fragmentation of the events and characters. It can be argued that she remarkably reflects integration, which is the opposite of fragmentation. Basically, the purpose of this article is to reflect on examples of integration of fragments and ensuring unity in Woolf's aforementioned work. While doing this, the main characters, side characters and significant events in the novel have been examined and analyzed.