# Mary Datchet — Night and Day character guide > Mary Datchet in Night and Day by Virginia Woolf. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss Mary Datchet, Mary, Miss Datchet, Mary Datchet **First appearance:** 0001-night-and-day ## Snapshot A suffragist who lunches on sandwiches and Elgin marbles, Mary Datchet works for the vote by day and loves Ralph Denham in silence. ## Who they are Mary runs an office of the suffrage movement, humoring colleagues like Mr. Clacton and Mrs. Seal while quietly wanting more than they guess. Beneath the Elgin marbles she admits to herself that she is in love with Ralph, and the immensity of the statues makes her desire feel both solemn and alarming. Clear-eyed, generous, and self-denying, she is the novel's moral center, and her unreturned love quietly tests everyone around her. ## In the story ### [Night and Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/night-and-day) Present at the party, interacts with Denham and others. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/iv) Hosts the party, discusses her suffrage work with Katharine, and observes Katharine's personality, labeling her an 'egoist'. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/vii) Referenced in Katharine's account of the Suffrage office; Katharine contrasts her own life with Mary's. ### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/x) Listens to Ralph's criticism, contemplates her feelings for him and her own plans; considers learning a language and works on a manuscript. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xiii) Finds Ralph in the Fields; they talk; she invites him to Christmas at Disham; returns to suffrage office, where she meets Mrs. Seal and Miss Markham. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xiv) Hosts Katharine and William, feels baffled by their relationship and Katharine's character, later reflects on her love for Ralph Denham. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xv) Meets Ralph at the station, walks with him across the fields, and is deeply affected by his presence. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xviii) Mary walks with Denham, discussing her plans to go to America and finding comfort in their practical conversation. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xix) Refuses Ralph's proposal, struggles with her love for him and the damage to her self-respect. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xx) Returns to the office feeling detached; pours tea and critiques the leaflet; experiences a vision of life's scheme and resolves to accept truth without bitterness. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xxi) Hosts Katharine, struggles with her feelings for Ralph Denham, and confesses that Ralph loves someone else. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xxii) Her declaration of love to Katharine serves as a revelation, inspiring Katharine to reconsider her own feelings. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xxiii) Mentioned in Katharine's thoughts; Katharine recalls Mary's expression and Denham's confession of having proposed insincerely to her. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xxiv) Recalled by Katharine as someone who said 'I'm in love—I'm in love,' contributing to Katharine's reflections on love. ### [Chapter XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xxvi) Surprised by Katharine's late visit; found working with Mr. Basnett on political papers. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xxviii) Mary is working as secretary for a new society when Ralph visits. She has suffered and relinquished her own hopes, but achieves a sense of conquest and serenity in her interaction with Ralph. ### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xxxi) Now composed and purposeful, Mary observes Katharine's desperation with detached cruelty, while grappling with her own ghost of past love for Ralph. ### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xxxiv) Seen only through the illuminated window, working alone at night; symbolizes impersonal dedication and serenity. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/characters/mary_datchet - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/characters