Narration in Fräulein Else

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Recommended: After twenty years of literary analysis

In Arthur Schnitzler’s Fräulein Else, the story is told through Else’s point of view. Not only does Schnitzler allow the readers to see how the characters interact with one another through dialogue, he also incorporates Else’s thoughts and reactions to everything she experiences. Through the use of the stream of consciousness and describing her escapes to fantasy, Schnitzler is able to vividly convey to the reader the internal turmoil and conflicting emotions that throw Else into a void of hysteria.
Else first receives a telegram from her mother informing her that her father needs money in order to escape jail and embarrassment after being found out of embezzlement. Because there were no family members to turn to, Else is asked to approach Herr von Dorsday, a wealthy family acquaintance, to ask him to lend money. However, with the telegram comes with the suggestion of selling her innocence. “Oh Heavens, won’t he give me the money? I mustn’t look so frightened. Everything is at stake. I must say something intelligent and convincing” (43). This quote illustrates Else’s compliance to her mother’s message in addition to her reluctance to go through with her actions. In addition, Else contemplates, “How would you like it, Father if I sold myself by auction this evening?” (23-24). Here her inner conflict of personal needs versus family needs is emphasized in the sense that Else does not want to sacrifice herself for her father. Had Schnitzler not allowed us to read into Else’s stream of conscious, we wouldn’t have identified the source of her hysteric thoughts. Because she has something holding her back from behaving the way she wishes to, Else is forced into a situation where she gains no benefit as an individual.
As Else comes into i...

... middle of paper ...

...ler perfectly portrays a mental breakdown of thought and reason in addition to a wide range of emotion.
Schnitzler’s stream of consciousness style of writing is extremely effective in conveying the onslaughts of hysteric thoughts. Not only does it help that he intertwines Else’s thoughts with the dialogue she partakes in, but he also contrasts her thoughts with each word or action she says or performs. This technique allows the readers to see the different internal conflicts she feels and how her thoughts fall deeper and deeper into hysteria the more she forces herself to comply with her family’s matters. Overall, Fräulein Else is an impressive, vivid depiction of the loss of innocence and confusion present in an inexperienced, young maiden Schnitzler presents through his writing.

Works Cited

Schnitzler, Arthur. Fräulein Else. London: Pushkin Press, 2012. Print.

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