Mrs.
Dalloway by Virginia Woolf -
Chapter Summaries (1 to 12)
Chapter 1 (Morning – before 11:00 a.m.)
Clarissa Dalloway, an upper-class 52-year-old woman, goes out to buy flowers for a party
she is hosting that evening. As she walks through London, she reflects on her youth,
particularly memories of Peter Walsh and Sally Seton. She also thinks about death and her
place in society. Meanwhile, Septimus Warren Smith, a war veteran suffering from shell
shock, experiences hallucinations in the park. His wife Rezia is distraught by his behavior
and longs for him to recover.
Chapter 2 (11:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.)
Clarissa returns home and contemplates her life, marriage to Richard, and her past feelings
for Sally. She recalls the kiss Sally gave her and how Peter Walsh interrupted that moment.
Peter arrives unexpectedly, and both revisit past emotions. Clarissa briefly wonders if she
would have been happier with Peter.
Chapter 3 (11:30 a.m.–11:45 a.m.)
Peter leaves Clarissa’s home, feeling conflicted and nostalgic. He remembers being rejected
by Clarissa and is filled with insecurity. He follows a young woman through London,
fantasizing about her. Later, he naps in the park and dreams about idealized women and
solitude. Upon waking, he remembers the painful moment Clarissa rejected him at Bourton.
Chapter 4 (11:45 a.m.–12:00 p.m.)
Peter observes Rezia and Septimus arguing in the park. Rezia is on the verge of despair,
while Septimus remains lost in his inner world. Peter does not recognize their distress.
Rezia, however, clings to the hope that a psychiatrist, Sir William Bradshaw, will help them.
Chapter 5 (12:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m.)
Septimus and Rezia visit Sir William Bradshaw, who diagnoses Septimus with a complete
nervous breakdown and recommends separation and rest in the countryside. Bradshaw
sees Septimus's intellect and emotions as signs of madness. Woolf criticizes Bradshaw's
oppressive and dehumanizing approach to mental health.
Chapter 6 (1:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m.)
Richard Dalloway has lunch with Hugh Whitbread and Lady Bruton. Afterwards, he brings
Clarissa roses and wants to tell her he loves her but cannot say the words. Clarissa feels
misunderstood and judged for her love of parties. She believes they are her way of
celebrating life and connecting people.
Chapter 7 (3:00 p.m.–late afternoon)
Elizabeth, Clarissa’s daughter, goes out with Miss Kilman, her teacher. Miss Kilman resents
Clarissa and has a domineering personality. Elizabeth is overwhelmed and eventually
escapes the encounter. She contemplates her future and potential careers while exploring a
working-class part of London.
Chapter 8 (Late afternoon–6:00 p.m.)
Septimus has a brief moment of clarity while helping Rezia make a hat. They laugh and
connect like they once did. However, when Rezia leaves the room, Septimus fears the return
of doctors. He believes death is the only way to preserve his soul and throws himself from
the window as Dr. Holmes arrives.
Chapter 9 (6:00 p.m.–early night)
Peter Walsh hears the ambulance responding to Septimus’s suicide and reflects on life and
Clarissa. He remembers their youthful days and receives a letter from her inviting him to
the party. He contemplates his relationship with Daisy, his current lover, and the
unresolvable pull of his past with Clarissa.
Chapter 10 (Evening – party begins)
Clarissa’s party is underway, attended by many prestigious guests including the Prime
Minister. She is the perfect hostess but feels emotionally distant. Sally Seton arrives and
reconnects with Clarissa. Their meeting is warm but tinged with awareness of how time has
changed them.
Chapter 11 (Later in the party – night continues)
Peter and Sally reminisce about the past and talk about Clarissa. Clarissa learns about
Septimus’s suicide through Sir William, who mentions it casually. She is shaken and retreats
alone to think. She finds a deep connection with Septimus’s act and feels a renewed sense of
life and purpose.
Chapter 12 (End of the party – closing scene)
Clarissa returns to the party, calm and luminous. Peter watches her and feels an
overwhelming emotional response—perhaps love, admiration, or nostalgia. The novel
closes with Clarissa’s quiet, graceful reentry into the world of society, having confronted
death and affirmed life.
