Modern English Literature and the Reimagining of Time: A Study of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway and To the Lighthouse

The early twentieth century marked a pivotal shift in English literature, as modernist writers began to challenge traditional narrative structures and reimagine the representation of time. Central to this transformation was Virginia Woolf, whose experimental novels broke away from linear, chronological storytelling to explore the fragmented, subjective nature of human consciousness. This paper examines Woolf’s nuanced treatment of time in Mrs Dalloway and To the Lighthouse, focusing on her use of stream-of-consciousness narration, the concept of “moments of being,” and her deliberate employment of non-linear narrative structures. By weaving together the internal experiences of her characters with broader temporal themes, Woolf captures the fluidity of time as it is lived and remembered, rather than as it is measured by the clock. Situating Woolf’s work within the wider context of modernist literature and the philosophical framework of Henri Bergson’s la durée—the notion of time as a continuous flow of consciousness—this study explores how Woolf’s fiction reflects the deeper psychological and existential dimensions of temporality. Through close textual analysis, the paper demonstrates how Woolf’s innovative narrative techniques challenge conventional literary portrayals of time, offering instead a deeply introspective and dynamic vision of human experience. Ultimately, this study underscores Woolf’s enduring legacy in modern literature and her profound influence on subsequent representations of time in fiction, affirming her place as a visionary figure in the modernist movement.