Stream of Consciousness

Summary

In this installment of The Close Reading podcast, Ruth Hoberman explores the concept of 'stream of consciousness' in modernist literature. She traces its origins to philosopher William James and its application in the works of authors like Dorothy Richardson, James Joyce, and Virginia Woolf. The podcast delves into how characters' inner thoughts are depicted in novels, such as Joyce's 'Ulysses' and Woolf's 'Mrs. Dalloway,' showcasing the complexity of human experience through fragmented, associative thoughts. Hoberman explains the technique's evolution, distinguishing between 'direct' and 'indirect' interior monologue.

Takeaways

• 😀 The term 'stream of consciousness' originates from William James, a late 19th-century philosopher, in his 1890 book 'Principles of Psychology'.
• 😀 William James argued that thinking doesn't occur in separate, isolated ideas, but in a continuous flow, often interrupted by external stimuli or sudden thoughts.
• 😀 May Sinclair, a novelist, adopted the term 'stream of consciousness' when reviewing Dorothy Richardson's 1915 novel 'Pointed Roofs'.
• 😀 'Pointed Roofs' is the first volume of Dorothy Richardson's 'Pilgrimage', a series exploring the thoughts of a single character, Miriam Henderson.
• 😀 The passage from 'Pointed Roofs' exemplifies a stream of consciousness, where Miriam's thoughts flow without a structured logic, influenced by sensory stimuli like the sound of a street organ.
• 😀 'Stream of consciousness' is a broad term, but more specific techniques like 'interior monologue' are often used to describe deeper, more extended thought processes.
• 😀 The 'interior monologue' technique often involves an extended, unstructured flow of thoughts and can be particularly unlogical or chaotic.
• 😀 James Joyce's 'Ulysses' (1922) features one of the most famous examples of the interior monologue technique, with Molly Bloom’s fragmented thoughts at the novel's conclusion.
• 😀 Virginia Woolf also used stream of consciousness and interior monologue techniques, with her 1925 novel 'Mrs. Dalloway' providing an example of her approach to capturing complex human experiences.
• 😀 Woolf believed that to truly capture the essence of human experience, a novel must delve into the complexities of everyday life, using stream of consciousness to reflect how memory, sensation, and emotions intertwine in the mind.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in this podcast episode?

The main topic of the podcast is 'stream of consciousness,' a literary technique used in modernist novels to represent a character's thoughts in a continuous flow.

Where does the term 'stream of consciousness' originate from?

The term 'stream of consciousness' originates from William James, a philosopher in the late 19th century, who used the term 'stream of thought' in his book 'Principles of Psychology' in 1890.

How did May Sinclair contribute to the concept of 'stream of consciousness'?

May Sinclair, a novelist, introduced the term 'stream of consciousness' in her review of Dorothy Richardson's novel 'Pointed Roofs' in 1915. She applied it to describe the way the narrative explored the unfiltered thoughts of a character.

What is significant about Dorothy Richardson's 'Pointed Roofs' in the context of stream of consciousness?

'Pointed Roofs' is significant because it was one of the first novels to chronicle the continuous flow of thoughts in a character's mind over multiple volumes, marking a major step in the use of stream of consciousness in literature.

How does the passage from 'Pointed Roofs' exemplify stream of consciousness?

The passage exemplifies stream of consciousness by showing how the protagonist, Miriam Henderson, experiences a flow of associations triggered by a street organ sound. The narrative does not follow traditional logic but moves freely through her memories and thoughts.

What is the difference between 'stream of consciousness' and 'interior monologue'?

While both techniques involve exploring a character's inner thoughts, 'stream of consciousness' is a broader, more disordered flow of thoughts, while 'interior monologue' refers to a more structured form of inner dialogue, often more extended and logical.

What is the most famous example of an interior monologue in literature?

The most famous example of an interior monologue is in James Joyce's 'Ulysses,' particularly the final chapter where Molly Bloom's thoughts are presented in a continuous flow without punctuation or external narration.

How does Molly Bloom's interior monologue reflect her state of mind?

Molly Bloom's interior monologue reflects her fragmented and associative thoughts as she lies in bed, half-asleep. The stream of consciousness includes memories, sensory experiences, and bodily sensations, all of which shape her thoughts.

What role does Virginia Woolf play in the development of stream of consciousness?

Virginia Woolf was a key figure in the development of stream of consciousness, often employing 'indirect interior monologue' to convey characters' complex inner experiences. Her works, such as 'Mrs. Dalloway,' illustrate the technique by intertwining thoughts and memories.

What does Virginia Woolf mean by describing life as a 'semi-transparent envelope'?

In her 1925 essay 'Modern Novels,' Virginia Woolf uses the metaphor of a 'semi-transparent envelope' to describe the complex and layered nature of human experience. She believed that novelists should capture the full complexity of a person's inner life, using techniques like stream of consciousness.