Reading Notes W14: Lispector, Part X

When reading the historical context section provided for pivotal Brazilian writer, Clarice Lispector in The Norton Anthology of World Literature Volume F, I am informed of many aspects that filled her writing and traits of her dynamic personality. These many aspects are described in the following segment from this section:"A pivotal figure in modern Brazilian literature, Lispector deploys a simple vocabulary but an unusual syntax; she makes extended use of interior monologues to evoke the immediacy of subjective consciousnesses" (808). This quote goes into detail, describing broadly her writing style; using the inner-workings of the characters she creates to explore their consciousness. This delving into consciousness is further elevated when viewed through the vanity, sights and colors of the "external world". The outside world is subtly dissected in Lispectors writings through the inner-workings of her protagonists and antagonists. This aspect is also described in the historical context section in the following section: "Lispector is best known as a writer of intense, tightly structured short stories that portray the external world through a character's innermost thoughts and feelings and that emphasize sensuous perception to attain intuitive knowledge beyond words" (808). Lispector's work has also been described as a "feminine writing", with her style being akin to nuanced and connection/sensation. This is perfectly encapsulated in the following: "Lispector's special contribution to literary modernism may lie in her ability to draw connections between bodily sensations, the limits of language, and the mysteries of existence -and to make these connections the unifying structure of her work. Her fluid, lyrical style has been called "feminine writing," because it explores the relationship of immediate bodily experience to language" (808). Lispector's importance to not only her country, but various writers who've adopted her style cannot be overstated.