Point of View

The story is presented from the third-person omniscient point of view. This means the reader is able to see every aspect of the character's intentions and thoughts as they develop. It also helps to unify the themes across the individual characters' experiences and helps drive home the author's point given in the title; that there is a tragedy occurring in parallel with the American dream that is universally experienced.

Setting

The story takes place during the nineteen twenties and moves to various cities. The main locations are Kansas City, Chicago, Denver, Lycurgus, and various other places throughout New York State. The descriptions of the settings, especially in regard to their physical characteristics, are often colored by Clyde’s sentiments regarding luxury and poverty. This transition of settings is not difficult to follow, and helps reinforce the universal nature of the themes - they are manifesting...