To the Lighthouse

To the Lighthouse

by

Virginia Woolf

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To the Lighthouse: Time Passes, 8 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Having gotten no word from anyone about the house in years, Mrs. McNab gives up keeping it up. Before locking it up for the last time, she picks a bouquet of flowers for herself from the garden. She has heard rumors about the family’s deaths. Seeing Mrs. Ramsay’s old gray cloak, Mrs. McNab recalls a memory of her walking up the drive and lingers in the recollection. Then she locks up and leaves.
Time has defeated Mrs. McNab’s dedication to maintaining the summerhouse. Even fond memories cannot convince Mrs. McNab to keep laboring at it. Her effort to collect the bouquet attests to her appreciation for beauty.
Themes
Time Theme Icon
Art and Beauty Theme Icon