Point of View

The novel’s narrative point of view shifts frequently, which its primary focus is on its protagonist – Ezuelu, high priest of the village of Umuaru. The majority of the story is told from a third person limited point of view defined by his experiences, perspectives, and intentions; in fact, it begins and ends with him. Within that framework, however, there are several places in which narrative point of view shifts onto other characters – specifically, the third person limited perspectives and experiences of black characters like members of Ezuelu’s circle of family and friends (including his sons and his best friend and confidante, Akuebue), and the book’s white characters, such as Captain Winterbottom and his assistant, Tony Clarke. In both these sets of circumstances, the shifts are sometimes chapter long, and sometimes take place within chapters.

These shifts in narrative point of view are...