Clarissa Dalloway is preparing to host a party that evening. Once she has returned from the shop her old friend Peter Walsh stops by. Long ago she refused his marriage proposal. Peter asks if she is happy with her husband. Her daughter enters the room and he leaves.
The story changes setting and characters, moving to Septimus and his wife are waiting for an appointment with a psychologist, who will later decide to send him to a mental institution.
The scene moves to Mr Dalloway, who is dining with Hugh Whitbread and Lady Bruton. While he is returning home, he buys roses for his wife, intending to tell her that he loves her. But it has been too long since the last time he said it, therefore he cannot say it now.
Septimus and his wife Lucrezia are in their apartment, waiting for doctors to take him away. He can no longer withstand the wait so he jumps out of the window toward his death.
At Mrs Dalloway's party, the host hears from Sir Bradshaw's wife that one of her husband's patient has taken his own life.
Mrs Dalloway admires Septimus for not compromising his soul to men like the doctor, but she feel responsible as a comfortable upper class woman.