We Have Always Lived in the Castle

by Shirley Jackson

We Have Always Lived in the Castle: 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 4
Explanation and Analysis—Long Thin Things:

At various points in the novel, Merricat's narration shifts from a simple narration of events to a stream of consciousness in which she describes her impressions as a series of images and associations. In one such passage, she reflects upon Uncle Julian and the various "long thin things" she has seen that day: 

I thought that Uncle Julian was probably really very happy, with both Constance and Aunt Dorothy to take care of him, and I told myself that long thin things would remind me to be kinder to Uncle Julian; this was to be a day of long thin things, since there had already been a hair in my toothbrush, and a fragment of a string was caught on the side of my chair and I could see a splinter broken off the back step. “Make him a little pudding,” I said.