The present essay studies the functions of journey and ascent as recurrent motifs in A Day in the Life of a Smiling Woman by Margaret Drabble. The relationships between the geographical and psychological journeys and ascents are explored. Chapter 2 of the core analysis presents the four themes in which the protagonists articulate their strength and self-worth. Chapter 3 is devoted to the comparative analysis of the structures of the geographical and psychological journeys and ascents (item 3.2) and the study of the author's multiple angles on marriage, adultery and widowhood (item 3.3).