Dangerous Ages
Celebrates his 43rd birthday and struggles with resuming medical studies, feeling the weight of aging.
I: Neville's Birthday
Celebrates her 43rd birthday, reflects on aging and wasted time, bathes at dawn, receives gifts from family.
I
Protagonist; wakes on her 43rd birthday, bathes in a woodland pool, climbs a tree, and reflects on aging, wasted potential, and envy of her siblings.
II
Celebrating her 43rd birthday; reflects on her youth and the differences between her generation and her children's.
III
Celebrates her 43rd birthday, reflects on her past and her children's future, and engages in a discussion about love and marriage.
IV
Celebrating her 43rd birthday, reflecting on aging and her lack of literary achievements.
Mrs. Hilary's Birthday
Neville worries about her mother's despair and contemplates her own future, hoping to find work and interests to avoid a similar fate.
I
Attends Mrs. Hilary's birthday gathering.
II
Neville arrives early to comfort her mother, reflects on her own future, and resolves to find meaningful work to avoid a similar fate.
IV
Leads the swimmers, is the best swimmer, and eventually returns to check on her mother.
V
Shows affection by slipping his hand into his mother's, silently supporting her birthday pose.
VI
Stays at The Gulls to massage her mother's rheumatic joints; agrees with Rodney's politics.
VII
Expresses concern for her mother's happiness and lack of occupation; gently manages Mrs. Hilary's jealousy.
VIII
Goes to the seashore after settling the elderly women, reflects on aging and resolves to defy life.
III: Family Life
Struggles to resume medical studies at forty-three, finding her brain atrophied from years of domestic and social life; envies her children's ease with work and battles indolence.
I
Resumes medical studies at forty-three, struggles with the difficulty, and asserts her need for a personal vocation.
II
Struggles with indolence and distraction while trying to study for her medical course; contrasts her lack of focus with Kay and Gerda.
III
Observes Nan and Barry's friendship, suspects they are in love but does not interfere.
IV
Neville drives Grandmama to church in the pony carriage and is described as cynically patient, not listening to the sermon, similar to Grandmama in her acquiescence.
V
Engages in a conversation with Mrs. Hilary about Nan, marriage, and psychoanalysis; shows affection for Grandmama.
VI
Reads the news aloud to the family and is questioned by Grandmama about Nan's friendship with Barry Briscoe.
VII
Mentioned as the reason Mrs. Hilary leaves the group; his claims about 'The Breath of Life' curing depression are recalled.
VIII
Recalled in Gerda's memory for a past conversation about the overemphasis on sex in the younger generation.
II
Mentioned as an angelic figure at Windover, subject of Rosalind's jealousy.
III
Mentioned as having roots, unlike Nan and Mrs. Hilary.
V: Seaweed
Mrs. Hilary watches Neville play tennis with pride, noting her youthfulness and skill. Rosalind later mocks Neville's medical studies.
I
Mrs. Hilary's son; she recalls how he cherished and cared for her, and she loves him beyond anything but Jim.
II
Neville is playing tennis, and Mrs. Hilary watches her with admiration, recalling her childhood pneumonia.
IV
Discussed by Rosalind as 'poor old Neville' taking up medical studies again; Mrs. Hilary defends her.
VI: Jim
Neville is studying for examinations, looking tired. She interacts with Jim, defends Nan's writing, and mentions Kay and Gerda helping Barry Briscoe.
I
Her daughter, toward whom she feels a jealous passion.
II
Studying for examinations; described as looking exhausted; Jim believes her brain has lost its former sharpness.
III
Struggling with medical studies, feeling inadequate and questioning her purpose beyond being Rodney's wife.
I
Engaged in conversation with Mrs. Hilary.
III
Observes Gerda's appearance and decides to let her work for Barry despite knowing her tendency to fall in love.
The Pace
Mentioned as Kay, one of the Bendishes, who participates in the cycling and diving.
II
Mentioned as less competent in diving than Nan and Barry, but still able to dive head first.
IV
Referenced as 'Kay' (a nickname), chants a psalm and taunts Gerda about falling.
VI
Referred to as 'Kay'; has a weak heart and faints after the rescue; is helped by Nan.
X: Principles
Tired and cross from overwork, she plays the conventional mother, trying to persuade Gerda to accept marriage. She maliciously suggests Aunt Rosalind might agree with Gerda's views.
I
Reads aloud to Gerda from Mallock's Memoirs and Disraeli's Life, and discusses literature with her.
III
Argues with Gerda about marriage, calling her views sentimental and muddle-headed; suggests she consult Aunt Rosalind.
XI: That Which Remains
Suffers a nervous breakdown, confronts middle age, vanity, and loss of purpose; worries about Nan and Gerda.
I
The central consciousness of the chapter; she is recovering from a nervous breakdown and grappling with the onset of middle age, lost ambitions, and vanity.
II
Convalescent, finds critical appreciation in music and people, disgusted yet engaged with politics, seeks direct human action to ease his unease.
I
Opens the chapter by confessing her fear of aging and her ambition for recognition; discusses Rosalind's gossip about Nan and worries about Gerda's role in Nan's romantic situation.
IV
Walks away from Pamela's street, reflects on Nan's situation, and decides to go to Rome.
I
Mentioned as one of the subjects Mrs. Hilary dwells on in her sessions.
III
Mentioned as being ill and unable to travel; her close bond with Nan is a source of jealousy for Mrs. Hilary.
XIII: The Daughter
Reported by Mrs. Hilary as 'extremely ill' and worried about Gerda's refusal to marry.
IV
Mentioned as being 'extremely ill' (untrue) and worried about Gerda.
XIV: Youth to Youth
Observes Gerda's happiness with gladness and wistfulness, noting its cost.
III
Observes Gerda's happiness with a mix of gladness and wistfulness, hinting at its cost.
XV: The Dream
Neville reflects on her marriage, her ego, and her search for purpose, traveling to Italy and Greece before returning home with a new resolve.
I
Recovered from illness, she plunges into social life and reflects on her marriage to Rodney and her own egotism.
II
Travels to Italy and Greece, returns home in April, reflects on wealth and personal liberty.
