Point of View

Earthly Powers by Anthony Burgess is written in the first person point of view, through the eyes of the main character, Kenneth Toomey. The use of first person in the story works well in that the reader is able to understand the modern world of an author and playwright throughout his career. The reader is taken on a journey along with Toomey and is enabled to see inside the mind of the author as he rises to fame and deals with the relationships and struggles in his life.

The use of first person makes the story seem slightly less removed due to the time period and subject matter. Burgess uses Toomey's experiences and relationships to give the reader a bird's eye view of what it was like to live in the times and places inhabited by Toomey. Toomey also gives the reader the opportunity to venture...