Point of View

Nurse Tyler narrates the novel, and his experiences at the Alms House form a framing narrative that contains the rest of Mala and the Ramchandins’ story. Many of the shorter chapters focus on Tyler’s experiences working alongside Mala, or describe Otoh’s visits to the alms house and their growing attachment to one another. That said, the narrative focalization in other chapters usually aligns with one of the other principle characters and Tyler’s perspective often fades into the background so that the reader feels as though we are gaining insight into to the thoughts, feelings, and impressions of Chandin, Mala, Otoh, or Ambrose, with the occasional dip into the perspective of other more minor characters. It is a shift in focalization which usually marks the start of a new chapter, and new chapters also usually indicate a shift in time period and setting...