“A Thousand Acres” by Jane Smiley: Suddenly, mid-novel, first-person protagonist hears voices, and has three different thoughts simultaneously

Until the middle of this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Ginny—first-person narrator, and oldest of three daughters of an aging farmer—is rather ordinary. But subsequent to an extra-marital encounter with Jess, Ginny has three different thoughts, simultaneously, and she hears voices, with which she is comfortable.

“And I was surprised to discover how my mind worked over these things, the simultaneity of it. I seemed, on the surface, to be continually talking to myself, giving myself instructions or admonishments, asking myself what I really wanted, making comparisons, busily working my rational faculties over every aspect of Jess and my feelings for him…Beneath this voice, flowing more sweetly, was the story: what he did and what I did…And beneath this was an animal, a dog living in me, shaking itself, jumping, barking, attacking, gobbling at things the way a dog gulps its food” (1, p. 172).

Another day, in town, “I got back in the car…I scrunched down in the seat…There was a remote possibility that I would see Jess…He was often the one to run into town if they needed something…He didn’t appear, but thinking of him sparked the voices, and I gave into them, sliding farther down into the seat” (1, pp. 173-174).

Comment

In a nonpsychotic person, the presence of rational voices and multiple, simultaneous thoughts probably indicate multiple personality. In regard to the “dog living in me,” I have previously discussed animal alternate personalities (search “animal alters”). But I have not seen anyone else relate this novel to multiple personality. So I’ll just keep reading.

1. Jane Smiley. A Thousand Acres [1991]. New York, Anchor Books, 2003.