“Stream of consciousness” is a narrative technique that attempts to capture the flow of thoughts, feelings, and memories passing through a character’s mind. It often eschews conventional structure and grammar to more authentically reflect the inner workings of the human psyche.

In Amitav Ghosh’s novel “The Shadow Lines,” this technique is employed to delve deeply into the protagonist’s thoughts and perceptions. For example, Ghosh often blurs the boundaries between past and present, illustrating how memories intrude upon and shape current experiences. The narrative frequently shifts between different times and places, mirroring the way the protagonist’s mind moves fluidly from one memory to another. This approach not only provides a rich, layered understanding of the character’s inner life but also emphasizes the novel’s themes of memory, identity, and the interconnectedness of personal and historical events. Through these shifts, Ghosh effectively uses stream of consciousness to reveal the complexities of the protagonist’s mental and emotional landscape.