Stream of Consciousness or Prim & Proper

Sometimes when a person tells a story, he goes to fast, tripping over his words because there are so many thoughts in his head that he can't get them straight. Too many thoughts are jumbled in the mind, all rushing to get out. Stream of consciousness works that way. All the thoughts need to be written down as fast as they can so that the mind doesn't lose them. And yet all these jumbled thoughts only give a glimpse into the mind. Like David Foster Wallace said in his story "Good Old Neon," what goes on inside the brain is too fast and big to do more than sketch the basics of what happens in a single instance. The essays that Michel Montaigne wrote about various subjects follow that format: a slew of thoughts written down so fast, only giving a small window into the mind of Montaigne. And yet Pride and Prejudice author Jane Austen is able to properly and concisely write her books, methodically come up with the right words to use, putting them in an orderly way. While Montaigne writes in more of a "stream of consciousness" fashion, Austen writes with more planning and forethought, making sure everything is exactly the way it needs to be.

Montaigne's style of writing is very drawn out. He includes information that, while important, doesn't necessarily need to be shared and written down. All of his thoughts are put on paper; none can be spared. Montaigne covers all aspects of life from friendship to education to cannibalism! And with all these different subjects, it would be impossible to write a well thought out passage on each one. So he just writes down everything that comes to mind. The reader can tell that Montaigne's thoughts haven't full matured, still in that growing phase. How can he elaborate on one thought when another one is already forming? But they all carry weight and insight. He does a good job of including examples of other people from different cultures and time periods to further his point of view. And even with a multitude of sources and best of vocabulary, Montaigne's essays will only be stream of consciousness. 

Montaigne's essays are very well developed and intelligent. He uses quotes and examples from all kinds of time periods and people. He does a good job of expressing himself despite the completeness of his thoughts. He still makes sure that he gets his point across, that people understand what he's trying to say. Montaigne's stream of consciousness style alludes to a mind that is always thinking of new things, never stopping long enough to completely finish or elaborate on one particular train of thought. The subjects he writes about are random and all over the place, not following a specific theme. And the thoughts on these subjects are basically the same, not following a certain pattern or format. 

Jane Austen is most unlike Montaigne's stream of consciousness style. While she uses long, descriptive sentences, they are well structured and thought out. She uses long passages to describe her characters using both indirect and direct characterization. And her passages may be thought of as more methodical stream of consciousness, but they are too elaborate. Austen plans out her chapters too well for them to be jumbled heap of random thoughts. The description of characters, though very lengthy, written with precision and reason. Every action and word has its place and meaning. Jane Austen's style of writing is quite unlike Montaigne's. Her books are carefully thought out, not random thoughts quickly written down so as not to lose them. 

Montaigne's essays capture his thoughts quite messily and quickly. One must read carefully to fully understand what he means since his thoughts aren't complete. They are more like the seed of a thought; it's there and planted but not yet sprouted and grown. He offers insight into dozens and dozens of different matters of life with more insight from other philosophers and important figures. And yet, Jane Austen expresses herself through her characters and the way she writes them. She thinks carefully about them, makes sure they will do what they are meant to do. Stream of consciousness is not her style. The sentences in her lengthy paragraphs have meaning and structure. But, Montaigne and Austen are able to write and express themselves fully in two complete different and unique ways of writing.