As stated in David Foster Wallace's "Good Old Neon", what emerges from inside of us is "just too fast and huge and all interconnected for words to do more than barely sketch the outlines of at most one tiny little part of it at any given instant." After reading the magnificent essays of Michel De Montaigne, one could say that the techniques and topics portrayed in his book of essays accurately support Foster's notion. By utilizing the stream of consciousness technique in which an individuals thoughts and conscious reactions are used to tell a story, Montaigne's essays demonstrate his scattered-braininess. He does not simply tell a story like Jane Austen, he goes with the flow of his thoughts, jumping from one incomprehensible topic to another.
Both Montaigne and Foster depict that the uncontrollable thoughts that race through humans minds is far too complicated to put into words. In the Essays of Michel de Montaigne, these disorderly thoughts are exhibited casually throughout each and every essay. He writes in the spur of the moment, having the reader "on their toes", not knowing what will be said next. Montaigne uses imagination to tell a story which provides his audience with the notion that humans' minds are limitless. Ideas, opinions, and thoughts are boundless, as both men suggest. Montaigne's writing is fueled by imagination. By utilizing the stream of consciousness in his writing, Montaigne provides a window to his thinking in which he incorporates his personal thoughts and opinions into what he is writing. These boundless thoughts, are what ties him and Foster's notion together. The production of the human mind is too complicated to limit, therefore putting these thoughts into words is impossible.
On the other hand, Pride and Prejudice author, Jane Austen, portrays a very distinct, customary, form of writing. While Montaigne scatters his thoughts throughout his unorganized form of writing, Austen utilizes characters and their dialogue to tell an organized, structured story which is purposed to make a point. Because of this simplicity, Austen's pieces are much less complex than Montaigne's which enables the audience to understand and comprehend the text easier. The two individuals purposes and forms of writings are so diverse the one cannot compare the two. Austen's form is directed towards the traditional folklore that could be read to future generations, while Montaigne's ideas are limitless, random, and unforeseen. After reading both authors' works, and being exposed to each of their techniques, I would have to say that Austen's traditional form of writing does the better job at getting the audience to comprehend the purpose and themes of the novel. Some may say that Montaigne's "al over the place" thoughts convey a superior story, while others wholeheartedly disagree and favor Austen's style. I believe both authors contain complete distant styles and are not comparable. As for Montaigne and Foster, I believe both men share congruent styles of writing that demonstrate that the thoughts of the human mind are and always will be limitless.
On the other hand, Pride and Prejudice author, Jane Austen, portrays a very distinct, customary, form of writing. While Montaigne scatters his thoughts throughout his unorganized form of writing, Austen utilizes characters and their dialogue to tell an organized, structured story which is purposed to make a point. Because of this simplicity, Austen's pieces are much less complex than Montaigne's which enables the audience to understand and comprehend the text easier. The two individuals purposes and forms of writings are so diverse the one cannot compare the two. Austen's form is directed towards the traditional folklore that could be read to future generations, while Montaigne's ideas are limitless, random, and unforeseen. After reading both authors' works, and being exposed to each of their techniques, I would have to say that Austen's traditional form of writing does the better job at getting the audience to comprehend the purpose and themes of the novel. Some may say that Montaigne's "al over the place" thoughts convey a superior story, while others wholeheartedly disagree and favor Austen's style. I believe both authors contain complete distant styles and are not comparable. As for Montaigne and Foster, I believe both men share congruent styles of writing that demonstrate that the thoughts of the human mind are and always will be limitless.
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