To the Light House

                                                              Virginia Woolf

The first part takes place in one day in the life of the Ramsey family and their friends. Rather than choosing a day in which something surprising or life changing occurred, Woolf chose a regular day in which nothing out of the ordinary occurs. Nevertheless, in the space of the everyday, the life of a family is revealed, the role of the mother in shaping her children's imaginations and habits of thought, a marriage relationship, the exchanges between a married woman and a woman artist, and much more.

The second part of the novel, titled "Time Changes," takes place in ten years. World War I occurs during this period as does the deaths of three of the characters, including Mrs. Ramsey. This section of the novel is written from a great distance. It describes the changes of time on the house which the Ramseys have deserted.

Part III, "The Lighthouse," resumes the story of the Ramseys, now without Mrs. Ramsey.

In the first part of the novel, James Ramsey had asked to go to the lighthouse. His mother had said he could and his father had said he could not because the weather would be too rough to allow the boat to land. The novel ends with James achieving his desire and, along with his sister Cam, reconciling with his father. Part III is also a completion of the narration of Lily Briscoe painting a portrait of Mrs. Ramsey. In the absence of Mrs. Ramsey, she completes this portrait begun ten years ago.