Henri Bergson introduced the concept of durée, which redefines time as a continuous flow, unlike the way we usually perceive it, such as with the ticking of a clock. Bergson argued that time cannot be broken down into individual segments, much like how we cannot isolate a single piece of water from a flowing river. In the same way, time is fluid and continuous. In modernist literature, time is often depicted as complex and layered, rather than simply moving forward in a straight line. To the Lighthouse also explores how people experience time. Woolf employs various techniques to depict the passage of time, breaking away from traditional narrative structures. The novel is divided into three parts, each presenting time in a unique way. The first section, “The Window,” describes a single day at the Ramsay family’s summer house by the sea, spanning over a hundred pages to capture just that day. The narrative shifts between the inner thoughts of characters, with Mrs. Ramsay, the central figure, holding the family together, while her youngest son, James, dreams of visiting the lighthouse the following day.
The second section, “Time Passes,” marks a significant shift in style. An impersonal narrator describes the passage of years in a detached tone, presenting events that unfold over the span of 10 years in just 20 pages. This section portrays the decay of the Ramsay family’s house over time, symbolizing the inevitability of change. In contrast to the detailed exploration of a single day in “The Window,” “Time Passes” presents a broader, more indifferent view of time’s impact on both the physical world and human lives.
The final section, “The Lighthouse,” returns to a more chronological flow, focusing on a day 10 years after the events of “The Window.” Mr. Ramsay, along with his children James and Cam, finally visit the lighthouse. However, their journey is marked by loss and change. Mrs. Ramsay has died, and the family dynamic has shifted.
Woolf highlights the natural cycles of the seasons and the stages of human life, emphasizing the effects of time. In “Time Passes,” she presents a stark, painful portrayal of time’s impact. The family’s summer house is depicted in a state of decay, abandoned and falling apart. Woolf conveys the deaths of key family members—Mrs. Ramsay, Prue, and Andrew—in a detached, almost inhumane manner. These deaths are mentioned in a single sentence within parentheses, contrasting sharply with the extensive detail given to a single afternoon in “The Window.” This choice is symbolic, as it demonstrates how time moves forward relentlessly, indifferent to the lives it affects. In To the Lighthouse, references to the sea are abundant, and the shifting waves symbolize the onward movement of time. The waves represent the impermanence of life, constantly changing and reminding characters of the fleeting nature of existence. Mrs. Ramsay, in particular, reflects on the present and fears the passage of time. She wishes she could freeze time and protect her children from growing up and experiencing suffering. Time, for her, is something she wants to control and preserve, especially when it comes to her children’s innocence and future.
For Mr. Ramsay, time is also deeply personal. Rather than merely ticking away on a clock, time represents his hopes for the future, particularly in relation to his career. He feels that his intellectual work is not yet fully recognized, but he is hopeful that, one day, it will be. He even refers to himself as a “dying hero,” highlighting his sense of urgency and the personal stakes he attaches to time. Lily Briscoe, like Mr. Ramsay, initially shares concerns about the future, particularly regarding her art. She worries that her work will never be valued, reflecting her own anxieties about time. However, by the end of the novel, Lily shifts her focus from these concerns about the future to the past, especially to the memories of Mrs. Ramsay. This change signifies her growth as she reconciles her past with her present. Mrs. Ramsay, through her warm and magnetic personality, creates an illusion of the permanence of time. She brings people together—whether for meals or gatherings—and these moments leave lasting impressions. Even after her death, her influence lingers, and Lily feels this absence deeply. In her grief, she cries out, only to be calmed by a vision of Mrs. Ramsay.
In the section “Time Passes,” death is presented briefly and without much explanation. The deaths of Mrs. Ramsay, Prue, and Andrew are mentioned in parentheses, symbolizing the transience of life. This understated presentation of death emphasizes how time moves on relentlessly, indifferent to human emotions and experiences. While Mrs. Ramsay was once the central figure of the story, her death is barely acknowledged, underscoring the indifference of time to human suffering and loss.
In the final section “The Lighthouse” the narrative returns to the coast of Scotland, where the Ramsay family once vacationed. The family is no longer together, and the house has fallen into disrepair. Time has changed the characters as well. In the first section, James and Cam were children, and their parents were in middle age. By the last section, they are adolescents, and Mr. Ramsay is elderly. Mrs. Ramsay, once the heart of the family, is gone, and the passage of time has irreversibly altered the family dynamic and their appearances. This return to the beginning highlights the cyclical nature of life, where the passage of time is inevitable and inescapable.
At the end of To the Lighthouse, despite time’s destructive effects on the house and people, it cannot erase memories. Lily continues to remember Mrs. Ramsay and even Charles Tansley. This suggests that while time moves on relentlessly, memory preserves the essence of people. Woolf challenges the traditional, linear conception of time. Instead, she presents a fragmented view of time, one that intertwines the past, present, and future. Time does not simply move forward in a straightforward line, but instead it is shaped by memory, emotion, and individual perception. The memories of those who have passed, like Mrs. Ramsay, continue to live on in the minds of the characters, offering a sense of continuity and presence even in the face of time’s relentless passage.