Gertrude Stein and William James: Contacts - Judgements - Influences

Term Paper (Advanced seminar) , 2003 , 18 Pages , Grade: 1,3

American Studies - Literature

William James, psychologist and philosopher, and Gertrude Stein, one of the most influential writers of modernism, shared more than just a teacher and student relationship. According to Gertrude Stein herself, William James was the most significant influence upon her of anyone at Harvard, and one of the most important influences of her whole life. James had an almost legendary ability to inspire students and he awakened Stein’s interest in human personality, which remained her dominant and prevailing interest.

In the first section of my work, I will give some impressions of James’s and Stein’s meetings throughout their lives. Over a period of several years James was Stein's teacher and made a profound and lasting impact on her. She participated eagerly in discussions and experiments on the subconscious, a to pic of great interest to James. Connected to the first section about ‘Contacts’ is the following one on ‘Judgments’. Here I will try to outline some of Stein's subjective views upon her teacher and I will show James’s understanding of his highly independent student.

The remarkable influence that James had on Stein's writing will be the theme of the section about ‘Influences’. Stein's and James's ideas seem to correspond significantly. James’s theory of the stream of thought shall be especially considered here, for a lot of aspects of it were observed by Stein and modified and embodied into her own style. James in a way established a certain pattern of how consciousness works and enabled Stein to use it and develop it further. This led to an extraordinary style, which also influenced other writers of modernism, for instance Hemingway. My aim is to give some insights into similar thoughts and philosophy of James’s and Stein’s writing. It is quite impossible to state the complete influence that James had on Stein's writings and this is not the intention of this work. This work shall rather give a justifiable impression of their similar theories and of James’s direct influence upon Stein. The signs of their interaction can be seen both in Stein’s personal statements and in her distinctive and innovative style, which will be the basis of my argumentation.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• 1.0 Introduction
• 2.0 Contacts - from teaching to friendship
• 3.0 Judgments - "Yes, a thousand times yes"
• 4.0 Influences and how "thought goes on"
• 5.0 Conclusion
• 6.0 Bibliography

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This work explores the relationship between William James and Gertrude Stein, emphasizing their shared intellectual journey, particularly James's significant influence on Stein's writing and her unique style. It delves into their interactions as teacher and student, examines Stein's subjective views on James, and analyzes how James's concepts of consciousness shaped Stein's literary approach.

• The multifaceted relationship between William James and Gertrude Stein
• The influence of William James's teaching on Gertrude Stein's intellectual development
• Gertrude Stein's subjective perspectives on William James and his work
• The impact of William James's theory of the stream of consciousness on Gertrude Stein's writing style
• The evolution of Gertrude Stein's writing style and its connection to James's concepts

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• 1.0 Introduction: This chapter establishes the core premise of the work by highlighting the profound influence William James had on Gertrude Stein. It outlines the main sections of the work, focusing on their interactions, Stein's judgments, and the impact of James's theories on Stein's writing style.
• 2.0 Contacts - from teaching to friendship: This chapter explores the early encounters between James and Stein during her studies at Radcliffe College. It describes James's teaching style, his interest in the subconscious, and Stein's participation in his psychological experiments. It also highlights the influence of James's work, particularly "The Principles of Psychology," on Stein's later writings.
• 3.0 Judgments - "Yes, a thousand times yes": This chapter delves into Stein's subjective views on her teacher and James's understanding of his independent student. It examines their shared intellectual journey and the evolution of their relationship, shedding light on their mutual admiration and respect.
• 4.0 Influences and how "thought goes on": This chapter analyzes the impact of James's theories on Stein's writing style, specifically his theory of the stream of consciousness. It explores how Stein incorporated and modified James's concepts, creating a distinctive and innovative style that influenced other modernist writers.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The work explores the relationship between William James and Gertrude Stein, focusing on the influence of James's psychological and philosophical concepts on Stein's writing style, particularly his theory of the stream of consciousness. Key themes include teaching and student relationships, subconscious exploration, modernist writing styles, and the evolution of literary expression. The work aims to provide insights into the shared intellectual journey of these two influential figures.

• College: University of Dusseldorf "Heinrich Heine"
• Grade: 1,3
• Author: Sylvi Burkhardt (Author)
• Publication Year: 2003
• Pages: 18
• Catalog Number: V34535
• ISBN (eBook): 9783638347297
• Language: English
• Tags: Gertrude, Stein, William, James, Contacts, Judgements, Influences