To the Lighthouse-Virginia Woolf

Mr. Ramsay

Patriarch of the Ramsay family, he is a little-published philosopher seeking his version of success—Z—but is stuck at Q. He is heavily reliant on his wife for "what he needs" and, after her passing, seeks out validation from Lily instead. His children resent this character's harsh treatment, but still cherish the little praise that he gives.

Jasper Ramsay

One of the Ramsay children, this character is energetic and spends his time shooting rooks. He believes that birds "do not feel" but enjoys his mother's personification of the birds Mary and Joesph.

Prue Ramsay

The oldest daughter and the beauty of the family; Mrs. Ramsay is delighted at her marriage prospects. She later dies in childbirth during the war.

Augustus Carmicheal

A poet and frequent opioid user who visits the Ramsay's vacation home in the Isle of Skyes. He doesn't trust Mrs. Ramsay, and blames her for the dissolution of his marriage. In the beginning of the novel, he is described as having "yellow cat's eyes" and like a "pagan god" in the end. He likes Andrew the most and is upset when he dies during the war; it is also during the war that his poetry becomes popular.

William Bankes

An botanist and friend of the Ramsays; childless and a widower; kind, calm, practical, sensible, level-headed; Mrs. Ramsay hopes he will marry Lily Brisco, and though they never marry, they remain close friends

Andrew Ramsay

The oldest son. He is very gifted in math and was going to be a mathematician. He works hard so that he can earn academic achievements. He is close to Augustus Carmichael. He was killed by a bomb (stated as a "shell") in France during the war.

Mrs. McNab

The elderly housekeeper on the Ramsays' estate. She cleaned up the house even though it had been uninhabited for many years. She was friendly with Mrs. Ramsay. She is very reflective on old memories of when the house was full of life as she cleans.

James Ramsay

The youngest child of the Ramsay family. He loves his mother, Mrs. Ramsay, but despises his father, Mr. Ramsay, who refuses his request to visit the lighthouse. Ten years later, he ends up sharing many of the same characteristics he disliked in his father, becoming moody and irritable. He eventually sails to the lighthouse with his father and older sister, and along the journey realizes his father's loneliness and their similarities. As the boat approaches the lighthouse, Mr. Ramsey praises his son in a moment of reconciliation.

Macalister and Macalister's boy

A fisherman and his son who take the Ramsay's to the lighthouse. The fisherman talks with Mr. Ramsay about storms and shipwrecks while his son fishes. When the son catches a fish, he cuts out a square to use as bait, then throws its body back into the sea.

Minta Doyle

An energetic young woman, fearless and adventurous, but with a phobia for bulls. A young lover, betrothed to Paul Rayley, with all the emotional passion that comes with it. Stereotypically feminine and prone to drama, her marriage is perfect in the eyes of Mrs. Ramsey, but the romanticism proves to be a lie as her marriage falls apart in the second half.

Mrs. Ramsey

A woman who tends to follow along the walls of society, enjoys bringing people together to form successful relationships, while she has a hard time admitting her love for those she holds dear, "_______ saw, realizing his extreme anxiety about himself, would, in her own way, see that he was taken care of, and praise him, somehow or other. But she wished it was not necessary: perhaps it was her fault that it was necessary."

Charles Tansley

A young philosopher and student of Mr. Ramsay. He is generally disliked by other residents of the Isle of Skye because he tends to be unpleasant, rude, and insulting. He is critical of women like Lily, claiming that they can't paint or write. He tries to win the approval of Mrs. Ramsay, but is generally unsuccessful. He comes from a humble background. His behavior is motivated by a desperate need for reassurance. He is self-centered and threatened by others. He harbors deep insecurities which most likely stem from his upbringing.

Lily Briscoe

A single painter friend of the family. She begins a painting of Mrs. Ramsay and James at the beginning of the novel and doesn't finish it until the very end. Tries to be nice to Charles Tansley to appease Mrs. Ramsay, but can't fully hold her tongue when he insults her by insisting women cannot paint or write. Due to his remarks and other anxieties, she often worries about the fate and worth of her work. She rejects the idea of conventional femininity and refuses to get married. In addition, she is able to mix"masculine" rationality with "feminine" sympathy.

Cam Ramsay

The Ramsay's youngest daughter, who is mischievous and energetic. At the end of the novel, she sails with James and Mr. Ramsay. Additionally, she feels torn about about loving her father because of his "crass blindness and tyranny which had poisoned her childhood..."

Paul Rayley

A young friend of the Ramsay family who is visiting their summer house, he is inspired by Mrs. Ramsay to propose to Minta on the beach. She gives him advice on where and how he should propose. He also helps Minta find her grandmother's brooch and promised he would find it or buy her a new one. At the end, Lily Briscoe claims that his marriage to Minta fell apart.

Rose Ramsay

Daughter of Mrs. and Mr. Ramsay; Mrs. Ramsay subtly encourages her to gravitate towards more feminine activities and fulfill the role of housewife; she picks out Mrs. Ramsay's jewelry for the dinner party and places a great deal of importance on this choice; she likes to make things beautiful; Mrs. Ramsay considers how Rose is "bound to suffer"

Roger Ramsey

Son of the Ramsey family who's free spirited and adventurous, similar to his sister nancy.

Nancey Ramsey

A minor character, introverted, who prefers to be by herself with her imagination, often seeing entire worlds in little scenes, to "the horror of family life".