To the Lighthouse: The Window, 12 Summary & Analysis

Walking together, Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay chat affectionately about the household and children, Mrs. Ramsay suppressing her worry about the cost of fixing the greenhouse (protecting Mr. Ramsay from her fears about money) and Mr. Ramsay suppressing his anger and disgust that Mr. Tansley is the only young man who admires his books (sparing Mrs. Ramsay his self-doubt). When Mrs. Ramsay brushes aside the prospect of a scholarship for Andrew, Mr. Ramsay thinks her foolish for dismissing “a serious thing, like a scholarship.” Still, they are in agreement about their disagreement: “She liked him to believe in scholarships, and he liked her to be proud of Andrew whatever he did.”

Walking on arm in arm, Mrs. Ramsay sees the Lighthouse and, not liking to be reminded that she had “let herself sit there, thinking,” turns to look at the town, thinking “all the poverty, all the suffering had turned to that” and the lights of town and harbor look like “a phantom net” floating in the place where something has sunk.

Mr. Ramsay announces that, “if he could not share her thoughts…he would be off,” but wants to assure Mrs. Ramsay before he goes that she needn’t worry about Andrew out walking and that he himself might take a daylong walk tomorrow. Disappointed that his wife does not protest this plan, Mr. Ramsay thinks back longingly to the walks he took before they married, then stops himself thinking he would be “a beast” to wish to change a single thing about his life. He thinks of his children with a sense of accomplishment, despite the “poor little universe.”

“Poor little place,” murmurs Mr. Ramsay and Mrs. Ramsay is annoyed, thinking he is always just “phrase-making,” saying “the most melancholy things” and seeming “more cheerful” as soon as he’s said them. She thinks that “if she had said half what he said, she would have blown her brains out by now.” She chides him affectionately, and silently suspects he is thinking, “he would have written better books if he had not married.” Mr. Ramsay replies he is “not complaining,” she agrees, he quickly kisses her hand, and she is moved to tears at the gesture.

Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay continue walking and she thinks fondly about how strong her husband is, how he is extraordinary for being able to face such large, horrible notions head-on while remaining blind “to the ordinary things” like flowers, Prue’s beauty, etc., which Mrs. Ramsay knows he acknowledges only to please her when she points them out to him. Yet Mrs. Ramsay reminds herself (in between observations on the state of the lawn and garden) that that’s the way all great men are and that it is “good for young men…simply to hear him, simply to look at him.” She sees a fresh star and wants to show her husband, but stops herself since he “never looked at things.”

Mrs. Ramsay catches sight of Lily and Mr. Bankes walking on the lawn and it occurs to her that they should get married.