I meant nothing by The Lighthouse. One has to have a central line down the middle of the book to hold the design together. I saw that all sorts of feelings would accrue to this, but I refused to think them out, and trusted that people would make it the deposit for their own emotions—which they have done, one thinking it means one thing another another. I can’t manage Symbolism except in this vague, generalized way. Whether its right or wrong I don’t know, but directly I’m told what a thing means, it becomes hateful to me.

Virginia Woolf, in David Bradshaw, introduction to Virginia Woolf, The Lighthouse