The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Bowles, Jane. Two Serious Ladies. HarperCollins Publishers, 2014.

Jane Bowles' novel Two Serious Ladies is written from the third person point of view and in the past tense. The novel is divided into three chapters, and follows a linear structure. The following summary employs the same formal elements.

In Chapter 1, when Christina Goering was a young girl, she was alienated and disliked. Her rich inner life dominated her mind and spirit. There was, however, one girl whose attention Christina desired: her sister's friend Mary. Whenever Christina did convince Mary to play with her, she orchestrated lopsided games involving dancing and baptism. She told Mary that the games were not meant for amusement, but were done out of necessity.

Years later, as a young woman, Miss Goering continued living in the house where she was born. She inherited the estate, located just outside of New York City, from her mother. One day, her governess's cousin, Miss Lucie Gamelon, stopped over for a visit. During Miss Gamelon's second visit, Miss Goering invited her to live with her. She did not think Miss Gamelon was a good woman, but liked the way she made her feel.

One night, Miss Goering attended her friend Anna's party. At the party, she talked to her friend Mrs. Copperfield, who would not stop complaining about her upcoming trip to Central America with her husband. Miss Goering was distracted by a man named Arnold, who kept giving her attention. Though Arnold unsettled Miss Goering, she accepted his invitation back to his apartment.

At the apartment, Arnold seemed dull and moody. Miss Goering was much more interested in Arnold's father.

The next day, Miss Goering and Miss Gamelon argued about Miss Goering's imminent plan to sell her estate and move to a diminutive cottage on a nearby island. Miss Goering insisted that the move was a necessary step to securing her personal, self-defined salvation. Suddenly, Arnold arrived. Tired of living with his parents and working in real estate, Arnold hoped to win Miss Goering's favor. He invited himself to live with her. Though she found him puzzling, she allowed him to stay.

In Chapter 2, Mr. and Mrs. Copperfield arrived at the Panama harbor. As they walked through the streets of Colon, Mrs. Copperfield felt overwhelmed and frightened. All she wanted was happiness, but Mr. Copperfield's whims constantly dominated her needs and wants.

Later, a young woman named Pacifica invited Mr. and Mrs. Copperfield to dinner. Mrs. Copperfield was immediately enamored with Pacifica, and went with her back to her hotel after eating. At the hotel, Mrs. Copperfield met the hotel proprietor Mrs. Quill.

Soon, she, Mrs. Copperfield, and Pacifica began spending time together. Mrs. Copperfield was so delighted by their company, she had no interest in traveling any further with her husband. She let Mr. Copperfield do as he pleased, insisting she would rather be in Colon with her new friends.

Mrs. Copperfield soon realized that she had both sexual and romantic feelings for Pacifica, and was powerless to ignore them. When Mr. Copperfield told her it was time to leave Colon, she refused to go, and stayed behind in Colon with her new lover.

In Chapter 3, a few months later, Miss Goering, Miss Gamelon, and Arnold were living in Miss Goering's new island cottage. Miss Goering soon realized that the home was becoming too comfortable. She decided to force herself to take solo excursions to the mainland, in order to challenge her fears and discomforts.

During her first trip to the mainland, she met many people, and eventually went home with a man named Andy. Though she refused Andy's sexual advances, she promised to return the following evening.

The next day, Arnold and his father accompanied Miss Goering to the mainland. Eventually she left her friends and reconvened with Andy. She told Arnold's father she would be staying with Andy for the next eight days. At the end of the eight days, Miss Goering had grown tired of Andy. Another man at the bar, Ben, had taken her interest. During their first evening together, Ben took Miss Goering back to his house, where they ate dinner. Then they ventured back into town together. Ben told Miss Goering she was to sit alone while he conducted business with his associates. Feeling bored and anxious, Miss Goering invited Mrs. Copperfield to sit with her.

Mrs. Copperfield arrived at the bar with Pacifica. Miss Goering was shocked by her friend's altered appearance and demeanor. Though neither woman liked the way the other had changed, both Miss Goering and Mrs. Copperfield resembled one another.