Upon Some Midnights Clear | Techniques

Upon Some Midnights Clear Techniques

A key element in Constantine's technical effectiveness, especially noticeable in Upon Some Midnights Clear, is the interweaving of all the aspects of the story. As the novel progresses, the various strands of the plot become interconnected (although without any neat completeness that would seem too artificial); superficial layers are removed as character is revealed; leitmotifs, such as Balzic's going to Muscotti's bar, recur, and dominant themes help establish a certain unity. It is worth remarking that Constantine does not divide his seamless web of life into chapters, but the reader is not overwhelmed by the story's realistically avoiding obtrusive patterns. The work hangs together both through its being centered on Balzic's point of view, and through the use of an essentially straightforward chronology, with fairly minimal use of flashbacks.

As an example of the unifying effect of theme in Upon Some Midnights Clear, consider a key passage introduced...
(read more)