How did Henry James’s work help develop stream-of-consciousness writing?

Henry James served as a crucial transitional figure between literary realism and Modernism, and his focus on the inner life of his characters established him as a forerunner of the stream-of-consciousness movement.12

Rather than focusing solely on external action, James was deeply interested in human behavior and the psychological processes of his characters. His work evolved to prioritize the subtle rendering of his characters' perceptions, emotions, and limited insights. By exploring how external events impacted individual consciousness, he pioneered techniques that allowed for a more nuanced representation of the mind at work.234

This dedication to depicting the "inner life" provided a foundation for 20th-century writers who would later fully develop the stream-of-consciousness technique—a narrative style designed to capture the flow of myriad impressions, including rational thoughts, associative ideas, and subliminal experiences. Through his sophisticated craftsmanship, James helped shift the focus of the novel toward the complex, often non-linear reality of human thought.152