How did George Meredith’s interior monologues anticipate the stream-of-consciousness technique?

George Meredith’s contribution to the development of the modern novel is significant, particularly through his pioneering approach to character interiority. While his highly personal and aphoristic style was difficult to imitate, his extensive use of interior monologue served as a crucial precursor to the stream-of-consciousness technique later refined by writers such as James Joyce.1

By focusing on deep psychological studies of his characters, Meredith helped establish the psychological novel, acting as a vital bridge between 18th-century literary traditions and the experimental fiction of the 19th and 20th centuries. His work influenced a wide range of prominent authors, including Virginia Woolf, D.H. Lawrence, and E.M. Forster, who further explored the complexities of the human mind in their own narratives.1