Character guide

Helen Ambrose

major

Also known as Helen, Ambrose, Aunt Eleanor, Eleanor, Mrs. Ambrose

A thoughtful, independent woman who chaperones Rachel and offers guidance.

Terence Hewet

major

Also known as Hewet, Mr. Hewet, old Hewet

A young writer who becomes Rachel's love interest and confidant.

Rachel Vinrace

major

Also known as Miss Rachel Vinrace, Miss Vinrace, Vinrace, Miss Rachel

A sheltered young woman on a voyage of self-discovery and awakening.

St. John Hirst

supporting

Also known as Hirst, St., St. John Alaric Hirst, St. John Hirst, Poor old Hirst

An intellectual and cynical friend of Hewet, often debating ideas.

Mrs. Thornbury

supporting

Also known as Thornbury, old numskull Thornbury

A matronly, conventional passenger on the voyage.

Mrs. Flushing

supporting

Also known as Mrs. Wilfrid Flushing, Wilfrid Flushing, Flushing

An eccentric, artistic woman who befriends Rachel.

Miss Allan

supporting

Also known as Miss Allen

A scholarly, kind spinster who teaches and observes the other characters.

Susan Warrington

supporting

Also known as Susan, Warrington, Susan Jane, Miss Warrington

A sweet, conventional young woman engaged to Arthur Venning.

Mrs. Dalloway

supporting

Also known as Mrs. Richard Dalloway, Clarissa, Clarice, Aunt Clara

A charming, worldly politician's wife who visits the ship early on.

Mr. Pepper

minor

Also known as Pepper, William Pepper, William

An elderly, pedantic scholar traveling with the Ambroses.

Arthur Venning

supporting

Also known as Mr. Arthur Venning, Venning, Mr. Venning, Arthur

Susan's cheerful, conventional fiancé.

Ridley Ambrose

supporting

Also known as Ridley, Uncle Ridley, Mr. Ambrose

Helen's scholarly, irritable husband who works on his edition of Pindar.

Willoughby Vinrace

minor

Also known as Vinrace, Mr. Vinrace

Rachel's father, a shipowner who arranges the voyage.

Mrs. Paley

minor

Also known as Old Mrs. Paley, old Mrs. Paley

An elderly, invalid passenger who requires constant care.

Mr. Perrott

minor

Also known as Perrott, old Perrott, Alfred Perrott, Alfred

A quiet, older gentleman who courts Miss Allan.

Mrs. Hughling Elliot

minor

Also known as Mrs. Elliot, Hughling, Hughling Elliot, Elliot

A gossipy, social-climbing passenger on the voyage.

Mr. Wilfrid Flushing

minor

Also known as Mr. Flushing, Wilfrid Flushing, Wilfrid

Mrs. Flushing's husband, a wealthy art collector.

Mrs. Chailey

minor

Also known as Chailey

The Ambroses' loyal, practical maid.

Dr. Rodriguez

minor

Also known as Rodriguez, Signor Rodriguez

A local doctor in South America who treats Rachel.

Mr. Bax

minor

Also known as Mr. William Bax, William

A clergyman who performs a wedding ceremony.

Mr. Grice

minor

A ship's officer who gives Rachel a tour of the vessel.

Nurse McInnis

minor

A nurse who attends to Mrs. Paley.

Dr. Lesage

minor

A French doctor consulted during Rachel's illness.

Evelyn Murgatroyd

supporting

Also known as Evelyn M., Evelyn, Evie, Miss Murgatroyd, Evelyn Murgatroyd

A flirtatious, restless young woman on the voyage.

Richard Dalloway

minor

Also known as Mr. Richard Dalloway, Mr. Dalloway, Dalloway

A conservative politician who briefly visits the ship with his wife.

Hughling Elliot

minor

Also known as Mr. Hughling Elliot, Mr. Elliot, Elliot

A pompous academic and husband of Mrs. Hughling Elliot.

The Flushings

minor

Also known as Flushings

The couple who host an expedition into the jungle.

The Ambroses

minor

Also known as Ambroses

Helen and Ridley Ambrose as a couple.

The Dalloways

minor

Also known as Dalloways

Richard and Clarissa Dalloway as a couple.

The Elliots

minor

Also known as Elliots

Mr. and Mrs. Hughling Elliot as a couple.

The Thornburys

minor

Also known as Thornburys

Mr. and Mrs. Thornbury as a couple.

Lillah Harrison

minor

Also known as Lillah

A young woman mentioned in conversation, possibly a friend.

Aunt Lucy

minor

An elderly relative mentioned by Susan Warrington.

Theresa

minor

A deceased aunt of Rachel's, mentioned in passing.

Aunt Emma

minor

An elderly relative mentioned by the Thornburys.

Old Alice

minor

Also known as Alice

An elderly servant or relative mentioned in conversation.

Mrs. Parry

minor

Also known as Mrs. Raymond Parry

A society hostess mentioned by the Dalloways.

Lady Maud

minor

Also known as Maud

An aristocratic acquaintance mentioned in conversation.

Mrs. Jackson

minor

Also known as poor old Jackson, little Jackson, Jackson

An elderly woman mentioned as a neighbor or acquaintance.

Mrs. Hunt

minor

A woman mentioned in passing by the characters.

Mrs. Murgatroyd

minor

Evelyn's mother, mentioned in conversation.

Captain Richards

minor

A ship captain mentioned in passing.

Lola Mendoza

minor

A local woman mentioned in South America.

Raymond Oliver

minor

Also known as Oliver

A young man mentioned in conversation by the characters.

Maurice Fielding

minor

Also known as Fielding, Maurice

A friend of Hewet's, mentioned in letters.

Jenkinson

minor

Also known as Jenkinson of Peterhouse

An academic acquaintance of Hirst's.

Lord Glenaway

minor

An aristocrat mentioned in conversation.

Lady Barborough

minor

Also known as old Lady Barborough

An elderly society figure mentioned by the characters.

Lady Theo Bingham Bingley

minor

Also known as Lady Theo

A titled acquaintance mentioned in conversation.

Aunt Bessie

minor

An elderly relative mentioned by one of the characters.

Muriel

minor

A young woman mentioned in passing.

Alfred Perrott

minor

Also known as Alfred Perrot wo

Mr. Perrott's first name, used occasionally.

Sir Walter Elliott

minor

Also known as Sir, Sir Walter

A baronet mentioned in conversation as an acquaintance.

Rev. William Johnson

minor

Also known as William

A clergyman mentioned in passing.

Henry George

minor

Also known as George

A political economist mentioned in conversation.

Father Damien

minor

Also known as Father

A missionary mentioned in passing.

Herbert Spencer

minor

Also known as Hubert

A philosopher mentioned in intellectual discussions.

Rev. Sidney Hirst

minor

A clergyman relative of St. John Hirst.

Hirst of Hirstbourne Hall

minor

A wealthy relative of St. John Hirst, mentioned in passing.

Dick

minor

A young man mentioned in conversation by the characters.

Hugh

minor

A man mentioned in conversation, possibly a friend.

Sinclair

minor

An acquaintance mentioned in conversation.

Bennett

minor

A servant or acquaintance mentioned in passing.

Sabrina

minor

A name used in a poem or song, possibly a character reference.

Euphrosyne

minor

The name of the ship on which the characters travel.

La Cousine Bette

minor

Also known as Betty, Elizabeth

A novel mentioned in conversation by the characters.

The English

minor

A collective reference to English people in the narrative.

Jane Austen

minor

Also known as Jane

The novelist, mentioned in conversation.

Shelley

minor

The poet, mentioned in conversation.

Shakespeare

minor

The playwright, mentioned in conversation.

Alexander Pope

minor

Also known as Pope, Sandy

The poet, mentioned in conversation.

Sappho

minor

The ancient Greek poet, mentioned in conversation.

Pindar

minor

The ancient Greek poet, mentioned as Ridley's scholarly focus.

Bach

minor

The composer, mentioned in conversation.

Cowper

minor

Also known as William Cowper

The poet, mentioned in conversation.

Burke

minor

The philosopher or statesman, mentioned in conversation.

Christ

minor

A religious figure mentioned in passing.

Sancho

minor

A name used in a literary reference or conversation.

Dear Bernard

minor

A person addressed in a letter or conversation.

Maria

minor

Also known as May

A woman mentioned in conversation by the characters.