rovided insight to Mathilde’s reasoning and character sodid Virginia Woolf’s in Solid Objects. Woolf has a remarkable stream of consciousnessform of writing that is clearly seen in this story. This stream-of-consciousness enables thereader to enter in to what John may be thinking as he discovers these objects. Thoughtsso clear as he digs through the sand to uncover a small piece of glass, staring at it inwondrous awe, much like a child would towards something so magnificent. As heinconspicuously places it into his pocket delightfully, Woolf illustrates this by followingthe action and giving the glass life and personality. This style allows the reader to perceivewhy John is so fascinated with these objects.Though Woolf’s stream-of-consciousness opens the door into John’s simplistic,child-like world, it is the objects themselves that provide greater meaning. The solid pieceof glass, as the narrator describes, confuses him. It “is so concentrated, so definite” whereJohn, in his life, may not be. He is fascinated by it and slowly, it’s “truth, concealed, andmisunderstood,” (Guignet, 377) causes him to abandon his reality and his life in hopes toreveal truth and provide for him the clarity he feels he lacks. This one object causes him,both consciously and unconsciously to devote himself and what seems like his life tosearch for other “specimens of the reality.” (Guignet, 377) Hoping that with each newfound object he’ll be able to unlock the knowledge and truth within the previous one, andfinally, within himself. Again, this is seen with the next object that works itself into thedepths of his mind. The china, in comparison to the glass is so vivid and so full of life, lifethat John is beginning to lose. He is unable to fathom how it was brought into the world,especially for him to be so lucky to find it. As he takes time to ponder over this object,hoping to ...
