Night and Day by Virginia Woolf

Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day was published on 20 October 1919 by Duckworth & Co. It is Woolf’s second novel, following her debut The Voyage Out (1915). The book reflects Woolf’s exploration of traditional Edwardian narrative structures, which she would later reject in favour of her modernist style seen in works like Mrs Dalloway and To the Lighthouse.

Set in Edwardian London, Night and Day explores love, marriage, independence, and social convention, focusing on the intersecting lives of four central characters. The author wrote the novel during a transitional period in her life, both creatively and personally. It was a time when she was experimenting with narrative techniques and recovering from a period of ill health. While Night and Day lacks the stream-of-consciousness style that would define her later works, it hints at Woolf’s growing interest in the inner lives of her characters and the subtleties of human relationships.

Plot

Night and Day centres on the lives of Katherine Hilbery and Mary Datchet, two women navigating the social and emotional complexities of Edwardian England. Katherine is the granddaughter of a revered poet, and her life is shaped by her family’s expectations. She assists her mother in organising her grandfather’s literary papers, a task she finds stifling. Katherine is engaged to William Rodney, a conventional and somewhat pompous suitor, but her true desires remain unclear even to herself.

In contrast, Mary Datchet represents the emerging “New Woman” of the time. She works in a suffrage office and is deeply committed to the cause of women’s rights. Mary’s independence and modern outlook contrast sharply with Katherine’s traditional upbringing, yet the two women share a mutual respect and friendship.

Ralph Denham, a young lawyer with a romantic idealism, becomes entwined with both women. Initially, Ralph is drawn to Katherine, captivated by her beauty and enigmatic nature. Katherine, however, harbours feelings of uncertainty about her engagement to William and her future role as a wife. Ralph’s presence disrupts her carefully ordered world, forcing her to confront her true desires and her reluctance to conform to societal expectations.

Mary, meanwhile, quietly admires Ralph but struggles with her unrequited feelings. Her story is one of self-realisation, as she grapples with the tension between her romantic aspirations and her commitment to independence.

The novel’s main problem revolves around Katherine’s decision to break her engagement to William, a bold move that signifies her rejection of societal norms. Ralph and Katherine’s relationship evolves into a more authentic connection, founded on mutual understanding and shared ideals. Meanwhile, Mary comes to terms with her independence, embracing her role in the suffrage movement.

It concludes on a hopeful note, with Katherine and Ralph beginning a relationship based on equality, and Mary reaffirming her dedication to her cause.

Into the Book

Women in Edwardian Society

A big theme of Night and Day is the role of women in Edwardian society and the tension between tradition and change. Katherine Hilbery embodies the struggle of women caught between societal expectations and personal aspirations. Her engagement to William Rodney represents the conventional path of marriage and domesticity, yet Katherine’s reluctance reveals her desire for intellectual and emotional freedom.

Mary Datchet, by contrast, symbolises the “New Woman” emerging in the early 20th century. Through Mary’s work in the suffrage movement, Woolf highlights the growing opportunities for women to engage in public life and assert their independence. Mary’s line, “It is not only the vote we want; it is everything women have never had,” underscores the broader feminist aspirations of the time.

Woolf analyses the limitations imposed on women through Katherine’s inner turmoil and Mary’s unfulfilled romantic feelings. Both characters challenge societal norms in their own ways, illustrating the complexities of navigating a changing world.

“I see you everywhere, in the stars, in the river, to me you're everything that exists; the reality of everything.”

- Night and Day by Virginia Woolf

Love and Marriage

Love and marriage are recurring themes in the book, explored through the relationships of Katherine, William, Ralph, and Mary. Woolf presents a focused view of romantic relationships, questioning the traditional ideals of love and the institution of marriage.

Katherine’s engagement to William reflects a conventional arrangement, based more on duty than passion. Her eventual decision to break off the engagement highlights a rejection of societal expectations and a desire for a more authentic connection. Ralph, who shares her intellectual and emotional sensibilities, offers the possibility of a partnership founded on equality.

Mary’s unrequited love for Ralph highlights the complexities of romantic desire and the sacrifices often required in pursuit of independence. The author's depiction of love is neither idealised nor wholly cynical, instead presenting it as a multifaceted and deeply personal experience.

“Never are voices so beautiful as on a winter's evening, when dusk almost hides the body, and they seem to issue from nothingness with a note of intimacy seldom heard by day.”

- Night and Day by Virginia Woolf

Tradition vs. Modernity

The tension between tradition and modernity is seen throughout Night and Day. Katherine represents the legacy of the past, burdened by her family’s literary heritage and societal expectations. Her journey is one of self-discovery, as she navigates the pressures of tradition and the allure of modernity.

Mary, with her suffrage work and independent lifestyle, embodies the progressive ideals of the new century. Her character illustrates the possibilities of breaking free from traditional roles, yet Woolf also acknowledges the challenges this entails, as Mary’s romantic and professional aspirations often conflict.

Woolf uses London as a backdrop to explore these themes, contrasting the grandeur of the Hilbery family’s home with the bustling suffrage office where Mary works. The juxtaposition of these settings reflects the broader societal shifts occurring in Edwardian England, as old hierarchies gave way to new opportunities.

“She liked getting hold of some book... and keeping it to herself, and gnawing its contents in privacy, and pondering the meaning without sharing her thoughts with any one, or having to decide whether the book was a good one or a bad one.”

- Night and Day by Virginia Woolf

Why It's a Masterpiece

Night and Day is considered a masterpiece for its exploration of social and personal themes, its incredible characterisation, and its elegant prose. Although it is more traditional in structure than Woolf’s later works, the novel demonstrates her keen ability to delve into the psychological complexities of her characters. I personally also think it is perhaps one of her most overlooked novels. If you're looking to pry into the intricacies of Woolf's writings and her timeline then you really cannot miss this one out.

The novel also captures a pivotal moment in history, addressing the changing roles of women, the evolving nature of relationships - looking at how women's roles were changing and whether a marriage was really a "requirement" anymore. Through Katherine Hilbery and Mary Datchet, Woolf examines the pressures and possibilities facing women in Edwardian society.

Conclusion

I believe that next to Jacob's Room this is perhaps one of Woolf's most important novels when it comes to her making her stance on the women's liberation movement known. For anyone who is also looking for that who has also perhaps already read Mrs Dalloway, this is the next pivot you definitely need to take.

Next Week: Sons and Lovers by DH Lawrence