The Sun Also Rises

by Ernest Hemingway

The Sun Also Rises: Stream of Consciousness 1 key example

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
Chapter 14
Explanation and Analysis—Jake's Narration:

Although Hemingway writes Jake’s narration in The Sun Also Rises in his well-known straightforward style, he is willing to break with this style in an effort to convey major shifts within the psychology of the character. A notable example comes about in Chapter 14, when Jake stumbles to bed after an especially raucous night. He begins to let his mind wander:

I wished Mike would not behave so terribly to Cohn, though. Mike was a bad drunk. Brett was a good drunk. Bill was a good drunk. Cohn was never drunk. Mike was unpleasant after he passed a certain point. I liked to see him hurt Cohn. I wished he would not do it, though, because afterward it made me disgusted at myself. That was morality; things that made you disgusted afterward. No, that must be immorality. That was a large statement. What a lot of bilge I could think up at night.