The Waves

This section opens with a description of the landscape as the sun sinks further.

The characters are in middle age.

Bernard travels to Rome. He reflects that this is the furthest extent of his traveling and that he’ll never see most of the world. In Rome, Bernard criticizes his own writing. He has spent years searching for stories and creating stories, but he no longer knows what those stories should lead to. Bernard isn’t sure what this next chapter of his life will bring him.

Susan has reached the heights of contentment because her children are reared and happy, her life with her husband is a good one, and their country estate is prosperous. Susan has everything she hoped for but also realizes that in committing so much to a rural family life, she’s missed out on other life experiences. She sees herself standing still as life passes by. She thinks often of Percival and Rhoda, but most of her time is spent in the day-to-day routines of her life as a mother and managing the land.

Jinny discovers with a shock that she is getting older and losing her youth and beauty.