How realistically does Woolf's use of stream of consciousness reflect human thought?

The Waves is known as Woolf's most experimental novel, but is it a case of style over substance?

Why is Percival such as important character in the book?

Does the use of monologue hinder the story and keep the characters static?

Why is The Waves described as a modernist text?

Do you think you get to understand the characters better through the use of monologue and stream of consciousness?

Why are the descriptions at the beginning of each section important to the story?