# Mr. Bankes — To the Lighthouse character guide

> Mr. Bankes in To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Bankes, William Bankes, William, Poor William Bankes

**First appearance:** 0000-the-window

## Snapshot

A botanist and old friend of the Ramsays, dining on Bœuf en Daube and watching the family with the detachment of a man who has known them for years.

## Who they are

William Bankes is the guest whose long-delayed consent to dine sets the household scrambling over the timing of Mildred's masterpiece. He moves through the Ramsay world as a quiet observer, close enough to be family and separate enough to see its rituals clearly. His presence gives the novel a counterweight to the Ramsays' intensity, a measured adult eye on the marriages, children, and small ceremonies unfolding around him.

## Relationships

### [Lily Briscoe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/to_the_lighthouse_se/characters/lily_briscoe)

_friendship_

Lily and Mr. Bankes share a warm, intellectual companionship based on mutual respect and a shared admiration for Mrs. Ramsay.

### [Mrs. Ramsay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/to_the_lighthouse_se/characters/mrs_ramsay)

_friendship_

Mr. Bankes is a devoted, long-time friend of Mrs. Ramsay, valuing her beauty and domestic grace while also feeling a subtle, unspoken admiration.

### [Lily Briscoe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/to_the_lighthouse_se/characters/lily_briscoe)

_friendship_

Lily and Mr. Bankes share a warm, intellectual companionship based on mutual respect and a shared admiration for Mrs. Ramsay.

### [Mrs. Ramsay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/to_the_lighthouse_se/characters/mrs_ramsay)

_friendship_

Mr. Bankes is a devoted, long-time friend of Mrs. Ramsay, valuing her beauty and domestic grace while also feeling a subtle, unspoken admiration.

## In the story

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/to_the_lighthouse_se/chapters/iv)

Mr. Bankes walks with Lily, discussing Mr. Ramsay's work and family, feeling aged and saddened by the changes in his friendship with Ramsay.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/to_the_lighthouse_se/chapters/v)

Passes by with Lily; Mrs. Ramsay thinks of him as a potential husband for Lily; later reflects on Mrs. Ramsay's beauty and incongruous simplicity.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/to_the_lighthouse_se/chapters/viii)

Mentioned as someone who intermittently feels reverence and pity for Mr. Ramsay.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/to_the_lighthouse_se/chapters/ix)

Mr. Bankes examines Lily's painting with scientific curiosity, discussing the composition and the reduction of mother and child to a purple shadow.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/to_the_lighthouse_se/chapters/xii)

Seen walking with Lily Briscoe, leading Mrs. Ramsay to speculate about a possible marriage.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/to_the_lighthouse_se/chapters/xiii)

Talks about his travels to Amsterdam, Madrid, Rome, and his wife's health; discusses art with Lily.

### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/to_the_lighthouse_se/chapters/xvi)

Has finally consented to dine with the Ramsays, adding pressure to the dinner.

### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/to_the_lighthouse_se/chapters/xvii)

Engages in political argument with Tansley, feels the dinner is a waste of time, and reflects on his friendship with Mrs. Ramsay.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/to_the_lighthouse_se/chapters/i)

Comes in from the terrace, commenting on waiting for the future to show.

### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/to_the_lighthouse_se/chapters/x)

Mr. Bankes is mentioned as one of the old gentlemen in the study, sitting opposite Mr. Carmichael.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/to_the_lighthouse_se/characters/mr_bankes
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/to_the_lighthouse_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/to_the_lighthouse_se/characters