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Situational Irony
Definition of Stream of Consciousness
Stream of consciousness is a style or technique of writing that tries to capture the natural flow of a character's extended thought process, often by incorporating sensory impressions, incomplete ideas, unusual syntax... read full definition
Stream of consciousness is a style or technique of writing that tries to capture the natural flow of a character's extended thought process, often by incorporating... read full definition
Stream of consciousness is a style or technique of writing that tries to capture the natural flow of a character's... read full definition
Part 5, Chapter 11
Explanation and Analysis—The Artist Mikhailov:
When Anna and Vronsky meet the artist Mikhailov in Italy, Mikhailov muses about who this couple could be. Thinking to himself in an extended monologue, Mikhailov demonstrates Tolstoy's pre-Modernism use of stream-of-consciousness:
As he went into the studio, the artist Mikhailov looked his visitors over once again and also noted in his imagination the expression of Vronsky’s face, especially his cheekbones. Though his artistic sense worked incessantly, collecting material, though he felt an ever increasing excitement because the moment for judgements of his work was approaching, he quickly and subtly formed an idea of these three people out of imperceptible tokens. Vronsky and Mme Karenina, in Mikhailov’s conjecture, must have been noble and wealthy Russians who, like all wealthy Russians, understood nothing about art, but pretended to be amateurs and connoisseurs. ‘They’ve probably already looked at all the old stuff, and now they’re going around to the studios of the new ones - some German charlatan, some fool of a Pre-Raphaelite Englishman — and have come to me only to complete the survey,’ he thought.
In this passage, Tolstoy uses the stream-of-consciousness technique to delve into the mind of the artist Mikhailov. Doing so allows the narrative to portray Anna and Vronsky from an outsider’s point of view, without all of the preconceived notions and prejudices of Petersburg society. To the artist, Anna and Vronsky are strangers, two wealthy Russians in love and nothing more. Bringing in the artist's outsider perspective highlights the influence and power of society gossip in people’s lives. In another time without the judgement of society, Anna and Vronsky could have been happy together.
Related Themes:
Part 7, Chapter 23
Explanation and Analysis—Anna's Unraveling:
After Anna and Vronsky quarrel, Anna's jealousies begin to consume her. In an attempt to calm herself down, Anna talks to herself and reveals her innermost thought processes, an example of Tolstoy's early use of stream-of-consciousness technique:
And seeing that, while wishing to calm herself, she had gone round the circle she had already completed so many times and come back to her former irritation, she was horrified at herself. ‘Is it really impossible? Can I really not take it upon myself?’ she said to herself, and began again from the beginning. ‘He’s truthful, he’s honest, he loves me. I love him, the divorce will come any day now. What more do we need? We need peace, trust, and I’ll take it upon myself. Yes, now, when he comes, I’ll tell him it was my fault, though it wasn’t, and we’ll leave.’
As Anna becomes more and more irritated with Vronsky, she starts to unravel. Her decision to leave Karenin and her son Seryozha becomes useless, as she has failed to find a different form of happiness. Anna's unraveling creates small pockets of stream-of-consciousness in the text, where Anna speaks out-loud to herself. In her thought streams, she asks hypothetical questions and assures herself of Vronsky's love, hoping it will act as a security blanket. This passage differs from other inner monologues because of Anna's life-ending desperation. Her thoughts become more disjointed, senseless, and scared. Therefore, this example of stream-of-consciousness serves as a foreshadowing device, leading Anna towards her death.
Related Themes:
