“I believe that all novels, that is to say, deal with character, and that it is to express character- not to preach doctrines, sing songs, or celebrate the glories of
the British Empire, that the form of the novels, so clumsy, verbose, and undramatic, so rich and unelastic, and alive, has been evolved. To express character, I have said.“
Virginia Woolf made this “character expressing” to the centre of her work and brought it to perfection in her late novels. She began using a stream technique in Jacob’s Room to describe characters’ thoughts and feelings. In phase II she built her novels on characters’ thoughts, formed the plot through description and characters mind progression. In To The Lighthouse Woolf let the plot progress through the developments of character. The Waves completely relies on the description of the characters’ minds and is phase III of her development. “She reaches perfection in characters’ thought and mind description” through the “stream of consciousness.”
The purpose of this work is to cover a basic approach on the stream technique Woolf uses in her novels, as well as embed some text passages in the psychological background William James and Henri Bergson gave in their theories. Bergson and James are both psychologists who gave way to theories oftime and duration, as well as to the theory of consciousness. Bergson, who was senior of William James, was highly influenced by James’ work and it is said that Bergson’s writing of Les données immédiates de la conscience was influenced by James’ article “On Some Omissions of Introspective Psychology”. Concurrently Bergson was highly regarded by James:
“So modest and unpretending a man but such a genius intellectually! I have the strongest suspicions that the tendency which he has brought to a focus, will end by prevailing,(...)“
Consequently it is obligatory to combine Woolf’s ideas of character description and her stream technique, with which she provides an insight into the character, with James’ and Bergson’s work. This can of course not be done in extenso on the following pages but I am trying to give an overview what we can deplore behind the surface of Woolf’s work.
Table of Contents
I, Preface.
II, Stream of Consciousness- A Theoretical Approach.
III, Time and Duration – A Theoretical Approach.
IV, Text based Analysis of Time and Duration.
V, Text based Analysis of Stream of Consciousness.
VI, Epilogue.
VII, Bibliography.
Objectives and Themes
This work examines the application of the "stream of consciousness" technique in Virginia Woolf’s novels, specifically analyzing how it serves to express character development and consciousness. By integrating the psychological theories of William James and Henri Bergson, the research investigates the relationship between the perception of time, duration, and the narrative construction of thought processes within her literary works.
- Theoretical foundations of consciousness according to William James.
- The influence of Henri Bergson's theories on time and duration in literature.
- Narrative techniques and the representation of "free indirect discourse."
- Analysis of character mind-progression and internal focalization in Woolf's prose.
- The connection between past, present, and future in the stream of consciousness.
Excerpt from the Book
Text Based Analysis of Stream of Consciousness
“She was driven on, too quickly she knew, almost as if it were an escape for her too, to say that people must marry; people must have children. Was she wrong with this, she asked herself, reviewing her conduct for the past week or two. And wondering if she had put indeed any pressure on Minta, who was only twenty-for, to make up her mind. She was uneasy. Had she not laughed about it? Was she not forgetting again how strongly she influenced people? Marriage needed- oh all sorts of qualities (…) one- she need not to name- that was essential; the thing she had with her husband. Had they that?”
This text passage from Woolf’s Orlando can be seen as an archetype for her stream technique. Mrs. Ramsay wants Minta to marry and again stumbles over this idea while she is watching her son playing. This moment evokes Mrs. Ramsay the thought of a perfect life. A woman must be married and have children. This emotion about her son, she connects it to her marriage, thinks about her opinion on marriage and connects her thought whether her own marriage is perfect or rather unpleasant. Concurrently Mrs. Ramsay thinks about her own behaviour- if it was the best way to confront Minta with marriage or if she was too tedious. Finally she reflects on her own life and whether her marriage really has all the things she thought one moment ago as necessary.
Summary of Chapters
I, Preface.: Introduces Virginia Woolf's commitment to expressing character through her novels and establishes the purpose of the work to link her stream technique with psychological theories.
II, Stream of Consciousness- A Theoretical Approach.: Explores William James’ definition of consciousness as a continuous, non-fragmented stream and how sensory inputs and recollections evoke thoughts.
III, Time and Duration – A Theoretical Approach.: Discusses the perception of time, distinguishing between "clock time" and "psychological time" (dureé) through the perspectives of Bergson and James.
IV, Text based Analysis of Time and Duration.: Provides a practical analysis of how Woolf manipulates the reader's perception of temporal progression in her narratives.
V, Text based Analysis of Stream of Consciousness.: Demonstrates how linguistic methods, such as the use of gerunds and internal focalization, construct a vivid representation of character thought.
VI, Epilogue.: Reflects on the findings, concluding that Woolf’s work is highly structured and informed by the psychological principles of her time.
VII, Bibliography.: Lists the primary and secondary sources used in the research.
Keywords
Virginia Woolf, Stream of Consciousness, William James, Henri Bergson, Time and Duration, Dureé, Free Indirect Discourse, Narrative Technique, Character Expression, Psychological Time, Internal Focalization, Literature, Modernism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic work?
The work focuses on analyzing the "stream of consciousness" technique in Virginia Woolf's novels and how this technique is informed by early 20th-century psychological theories.
Which central thematic fields are explored?
The central fields include the literary representation of human consciousness, the perception of time versus duration, and the interplay between narrative structure and character development.
What is the primary research question?
The research explores how Virginia Woolf translates complex psychological theories of time and consciousness into a literary "stream" that effectively reveals a character's inner life.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author uses a text-based analytical approach, applying specific concepts from William James and Henri Bergson to close-read selected passages from Woolf’s major novels.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the text?
The main body covers the definition of consciousness, the theoretical distinctions between objective time and subjective duration, and detailed analyses of narrative excerpts featuring "free indirect discourse."
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Key terms include Stream of Consciousness, Virginia Woolf, Time and Duration, Psychological Time, and Free Indirect Discourse.
How does Woolf manipulate the concept of "time" in her writing?
Woolf differentiates between objective "clock time" and the subjective "dureé," where moments are stretched or compressed based on the intensity of the character's thoughts and sensations.
What role does the narrator play in Woolf's "stream of consciousness"?
Although the technique aims to show the character's mind, the author points out that it remains a mediated experience via a third-person narrator using "free indirect discourse."
How is the "melting" effect achieved in the syntax?
The "melting" of thoughts is achieved through specific linguistic choices, such as the use of gerunds and repetitive pronominal references, which create a sense of cohesion and flow.
- Quote paper
- Sebastian Meindl (Author), 2008, The concept of Time and Duration in Virginia Woolfs novels - A stream of consciousness, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/147920
