Point of View

The novel is written in the past tense and the limited third person. The narration is limited to one character’s perspective at a time, but the narrative often shifts between character perspectives. The two main point-of-view characters in the novel are Jamie and Bill, as their actions and their relationship to one another are the main focuses of the narrative. The novel thereby provides access to the interiority of both characters, allowing the reader to examine similarities and differences in the characters’ thought processes. Jamie and Bill’s character arcs are both basically defined by acts of poor judgment and attempts at personal redemption, but their personal outcomes differ greatly. The juxtaposition of their perspectives also allows for a juxtaposition of their internal relationships to external circumstances.

The narration also explores the perspectives of some of the supporting characters, including Mrs. Houston, James Houston...