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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
1937
Explanation and Analysis—Nel's Perspective:
After Nel discovers that Jude and Sula have had an affair in the section 1937, the narration switches from third person to Nel’s first-person perspective. In a stream of consciousness passage, Nel speaks directly to Jude about their bedroom, which is where she catches Jude and Sula together:
Remember how big that bedroom was? Jude? How when we moved here we said, Well, at least we got us a real big bedroom, but it was small then, Jude, and so shambly, and maybe it was that way all along but it would have been better if I had gotten the dust out from under the bed because I was ashamed of it in that small room. And then you walked past me saying, "I'll be back for my things." And you did but you left your tie.
By utilizing this stream-of-consciousness, first-person perspective, Morrison is able to add suspense to the narrative by delaying explicit confirmation of Jude’s affair. Morrison relies on Nel’s immediate emotional reactions rather than the concrete facts and details of the scenario. This adds emotional power, allowing the reader to see directly into Nel’s thoughts and thus empathize with her. Nel’s shock becomes the reader’s shock as they both process the affair.
Nel’s incredible shock is heightened because of her friendship with Sula and her disbelief that her best friend would so carelessly hurt her family. The destruction of their friendship is especially emphasized by Morrison’s use of stream of consciousness, as Nel’s hurt and pain are experienced directly by the reader rather than via a narrator.
Related Themes:
