Proust Quote by Enid Starkie
““Proust, who did not greatly admire Flaubert, except perhaps in his narrow sense as a stylist - or perhaps only did not care very much for his work - nevertheless owed him a great deal, without realizing how much. From Flaubert he obtained the art of expressing his characters indirectly, through a monologue interieur. This method of characterization is one of Flaubert's greatest contributions to the art of fiction and, as we have seen in Madame Bovary, it is very different from the direct method of characterization practised by Balzac and Stendhal.””
About This Quote
Source Literary Criticism: Proust’s Influence on Flaubert, 1975
Proust adopted Flaubert’s indirect character expression, enriching modern fiction techniques.
In simple terms: Proust used indirect narration.
Key Takeaway
Embrace indirect storytelling.
Themes
literature
technique
influence
characterization
Mood
thoughtful
educational
Type
Proust:1
Madame Bovary:1
Characterization Flaubert:1
Realizing Flaubert:0
Proust Did:0
Admire Flaubert:0
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- novel analysis
- teaching literature
Key Concepts
literary criticism
fiction studies
narrative theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How does indirect narration affect empathy?
- What advantages does it offer?
A Different Perspective
Indirect style may distance readers.
