Clarissa Dalloway prepares for an evening party in London while the internal struggles of a shell-shocked veteran, Septimus Warren Smith, parallel her own existential anxieties. Clarissa navigates the social obligations of her status as a politician's wife, attempting to maintain order and composure amidst the sensory overload of post-war London. Simultaneously, Septimus experiences a fractured reality, haunted by memories of the Great War and a profound alienation from society. The narrative framework utilizes a fluid, non-linear stream of consciousness that shifts between the internal monologues of various characters. These perspectives are bound together by the shared physical space of the city and the ticking of Big Ben, which serves as a constant reminder of the passage of time.

Discussion often centers on Woolf's technical mastery in capturing the fleeting nature of human thought and perception. Readers frequently highlight the stark contrast between Clarissa's social performance and Septimus's psychological disintegration as a critique of post-war British society. Critics often examine the lyrical quality of the prose, noting how the lack of traditional plot structure emphasizes the significance of mundane moments. The novel is widely recognized for its ability to evoke a specific atmosphere of urban isolation despite the proximity of characters. Many readers find the exploration of the characters' shared terror of existence to be the most enduring element of the work.