The Duchess and the Jeweller

Interior monologue is a narrative technique that presents the unspoken, conscious, thoughts of a character. This is a powerful device for conveying a character’s motivation and frame of mind. In interior monologue, sometimes called internal monologue, the reader can “overhear” a character’s internal thoughts. For example, the reader has access to Oliver’s thought process during his morning routine as he reflects, with pleasure how, as his wealth increased, “he dressed better and better; and had, first a hansom cab; then a car; and first he went up to the dress circle, then down into the stalls” (249). From this, we learn that Oliver values material wealth.

Interior monologue can be presented directly, as in first-person interior monologue. This happens when Oliver thinks about the Duchess’s gambling debt, reflecting:

Been gambling again, had she?

[…]

The man with the chipped cheek bone? A bad ’un. And the Duke was straight as a poker; with side whiskers; would cut her off, shut her up down there if he knew—what I know (252).

Oliver’s thoughts are presented directly here, giving readers the impression they have access to the unfiltered thoughts of his character. First-person interior monologue is a common Modernist technique.