Though she could live comfortably without working, Mary chooses to work. Mary Datchet, the daughter of a country vicar, works in the office of an organisation that campaigns for the enactment of women's suffrage. At one point in the story Ralph realises Mary's love for him and he proposes to her however, Mary has already realised he loves Katharine and rejects his proposal. Ralph's relationship with William Rodney is relatively formal, while Ralph's relationship with Mary is more friendly. He repeatedly follows Katharine through the streets of London and often passes her house, hoping to see her inside. He leaves the party saying "She'll do.Yes, Katharine Hilbery'll do.I'll take Katharine Hilbery" (p 24), and from this point Ralph is in constant pursuit of Katharine. He makes his first appearance in the novel at the Hilberys' tea party. Unlike a few other characters in the novel, he has to work to make a living and take care of his family: his mother, a widow, and several siblings. Ralph Denham is a lawyer who occasionally writes articles for a journal edited by Trevor Hilbery, Katharine's father. Katharine is a very solitary person, and she struggles to reconcile her need for personal freedom with her notions of love. Although Mary and Katharine are the primary women characters, Katharine does not often interact with Mary. Hilbery registers his disapproval of the actions of Katharine and her friends when he learns that she and William have broken their engagement so that William could become engaged to Cassandra. Trevor Hilbery, is only seen on a few occasions. Margaret Hilbery, plays a significant role in Katharine's life, while Katharine's father, Mr. Eventually, Katharine agrees to marry Ralph Denham. After a time they end their engagement so that Rodney can explore a relationship with Katharine's cousin, Cassandra Otway. Early in the novel, Katharine becomes engaged to William Rodney. Though her family is literary, Katharine secretly prefers mathematics and astronomy. Katharine Hilbery is the granddaughter of a distinguished poet and belongs to a privileged class. Woolf makes many references to the works of William Shakespeare, especially As You Like It.Ĭharacters Katharine Hilbery Motifs throughout the book include the stars and sky, the River Thames, and walks. Night and Day deals with questions concerning women's suffrage, and asks whether love and marriage can coexist and whether marriage is necessary for happiness. The novel has four major characters: Katharine Hilbery, Mary Datchet, Ralph Denham, and William Rodney. The novel examines the relationships between love, marriage, happiness, and success. Set in Edwardian London, Night and Day contrasts the daily lives and romantic attachments of two acquaintances, Katharine Hilbery and Mary Datchet. Night and Day is a novel by Virginia Woolf first published on 20 October 1919.
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