Interconnections
What goes on inside the human mind is so complicated and interconnected that it becomes nearly impossible to determine even one thought at any given moment. This is the basis of David Foster Wallace's story, "Good Old Neon," were he writes that words can "barely sketch the outlines" of the complexities of the human mind. Yet, Michel de Montaigne is able to express his every thought on paper, and is still able to provide some structure and interconnectedness. On the other hand, authors such as Jane Austen, are too meticulous and structured and no longer provide a sense of the bursts of thought or the complexities of the human mind, but are still able to have connectedness within a story line. Jane Austen and Michel de Montaigne are two very distinct authors, with very different writing styles, they both, however, still provide a sense of interconnectedness and an intense thinking process.
Essayist Michel de Montaigne writes about a vast amount of subjects, from thumbs, to books, to Caesar, he is able to write about any thought that comes into his mind. However, within his writing their is a visible interconnectedness that runs through his "Complete Essays." Because when he is talking about Caesar, he focuses on Caesar, and within the following chapters he will either continue speaking about Caesar, or about other powerful leaders. At times, there is a visible pattern, or a line of similar topics. Montaigne is an author that proves what Wallace said incorrect. Montaigne is able to find the correct words to describe or explain, or simply just evoke a certain idea or feeling onto paper. Montaigne uses stream-of-consciousness to not only outline, but to write complete essays about one single thought "at any given moment." While Montaigne's ease to express himself and his techniques do not coincide with Wallace's ideas, his multitude of subjects does, as well as the manner in which he connects his "Complete Essays."
Structure is an element that the human mind and thought process lack, but authors such as Jane Austen are able to create it within their literary works. Jane Austen's popular romance novel Pride and Prejudice is a clear example of how structured the author is. The entire plot line is obviously well thought out beforehand, unlike anything essayist Montaigne would create. From the beginning the story is interconnected, to jump around to different ideas and such would make no sense. Take for example, Miss Jane and Mr. Bingley, or Miss Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, the couples lives and stories are interconnected from the very start. If Bingley hadn't fallen for Jane, Darcy would never had the opportunity to show interest in Elizabeth. If Bingley had kept residence in Hertfordshire, Jane would have never been with her uncle/aunt, the Gardiners, when she was depressed and Elizabeth would have never been invited to go on the nature tour, and she would never have gone to Pemberly to be reunited with Darcy and find her true feelings. Austen was very meticulous from the start, the storyline isn't something she could've simply "made up" on the way, it was structured yet it shows how interconnected her ideas and characters are.
Both authors merely contradict, to their own extent, David Foster Wallace, yet both authors also create a sense of interconnectedness within their literary works. Michel de Montaigne is unstructured and reflects the more literal sense of random thoughts, while Austen composes a very thought out and planned story. These two authors have very distinct and contrasting styles of writing, yet they are both able to create a line of correlative ideas in their own manner.
Essayist Michel de Montaigne writes about a vast amount of subjects, from thumbs, to books, to Caesar, he is able to write about any thought that comes into his mind. However, within his writing their is a visible interconnectedness that runs through his "Complete Essays." Because when he is talking about Caesar, he focuses on Caesar, and within the following chapters he will either continue speaking about Caesar, or about other powerful leaders. At times, there is a visible pattern, or a line of similar topics. Montaigne is an author that proves what Wallace said incorrect. Montaigne is able to find the correct words to describe or explain, or simply just evoke a certain idea or feeling onto paper. Montaigne uses stream-of-consciousness to not only outline, but to write complete essays about one single thought "at any given moment." While Montaigne's ease to express himself and his techniques do not coincide with Wallace's ideas, his multitude of subjects does, as well as the manner in which he connects his "Complete Essays."
Structure is an element that the human mind and thought process lack, but authors such as Jane Austen are able to create it within their literary works. Jane Austen's popular romance novel Pride and Prejudice is a clear example of how structured the author is. The entire plot line is obviously well thought out beforehand, unlike anything essayist Montaigne would create. From the beginning the story is interconnected, to jump around to different ideas and such would make no sense. Take for example, Miss Jane and Mr. Bingley, or Miss Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, the couples lives and stories are interconnected from the very start. If Bingley hadn't fallen for Jane, Darcy would never had the opportunity to show interest in Elizabeth. If Bingley had kept residence in Hertfordshire, Jane would have never been with her uncle/aunt, the Gardiners, when she was depressed and Elizabeth would have never been invited to go on the nature tour, and she would never have gone to Pemberly to be reunited with Darcy and find her true feelings. Austen was very meticulous from the start, the storyline isn't something she could've simply "made up" on the way, it was structured yet it shows how interconnected her ideas and characters are.
Both authors merely contradict, to their own extent, David Foster Wallace, yet both authors also create a sense of interconnectedness within their literary works. Michel de Montaigne is unstructured and reflects the more literal sense of random thoughts, while Austen composes a very thought out and planned story. These two authors have very distinct and contrasting styles of writing, yet they are both able to create a line of correlative ideas in their own manner.
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