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Situational Irony
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 3
Explanation and Analysis—Michael's Childhood:
Throughout Tar Baby, Morrison utilizes stream-of-consciousness dialogue to express the elongated thoughts and feelings of certain characters. Her use of this literary technique allows readers to gain a deeper understanding of individual figures in Tar Baby and how they approach their own relationships and conflicts with others. One example appears in Chapter 3, when Valerian ponders his tense relationship with his son, Michael:
“I don’t hate him. I love him. Margaret thinks I don’t. But I do. I think about him all the time. You know… this isn’t going to sound right…but I never was convinced that she did. Perhaps she did. In her way. I don’t know. But she wasn’t ready for him. She just wasn’t ready. Now, now she’s ready. When it’s over. Now she wants to bake him cookies. See him off to school. Tie his shoelaces. Take care of him. Now. Absurd. I don’t believe it" [.....]
Valerian's uninterrupted thoughts towards Michael continue for nearly two more pages, wherein he admits that he wishes for a closer relationship with Michael, even though "the last couple of times I didn't like him, or even know him." In Tar Baby, Morrison's stream of consciousness utilizes periods to separate clauses, rather than commas. However, her dialogue remains an example of stream of consciousness because she does not intersperse narration into Valerian's thoughts.
For readers, Valerian's streams of consciousness may aid in the development of his unique characterization. While Valerian does not live entirely in his own head, his musings control his moods, and he is extremely analytic over past events and relationships.
Related Themes:
Chapter 4
Explanation and Analysis—Dreams:
In Chapter 4, Morrison switches perspectives and begins to detail Son's point of view. Morrison utilizes both imagery and stream of consciousness to illustrate Son's initial feelings towards Jadine—feelings that cause him to drift off into his own dreams and memories from the past:
[He] would lie still and dream steadily the dreams he wanted her to have about yellow houses with white doors which women opened and shouted Come on in, you honey you! and the fat black ladies in white dresses minding the pie table in the basement of the church and white wet sheets flapping on a line, and the sound of a six-string guitar plucked after supper while children scooped walnuts up off the ground and handed them to her.
This passage from Son's point of view uses imagery through its attention to concrete details. From the color of the doors, the imagined dialogue of the ladies living in the houses, the sound of a guitar, or the smell of a pie and walnuts, each detail engages the reader's senses and allows them to imagine—like Son himself—the comforting and visceral scene of his dream.
Morrison also utilizes stream of consciousness, detailing Son's continuous thoughts for hundreds of words without a pause for external narration. This is a hallmark of the stream-of-consciousness style, and it adheres to Morrison's use of a non-linear narrative. Readers do not know exactly when or where Son's dreams or memories take place. However, these thoughts expose his manner of thinking and his attitude towards Jadine and their future together.
Related Themes:
