Point of View

The point of view of the story is through the experiences of the title character Elizabeth Costello. There is an omniscient narrator who picks and chooses what the reader has access to in the novel. Upon giving select information, the narrator will adjust the narrative with phrasing such as “we skip” (2), “there is a scene in the restaurant, mainly dialogue, which we will skip” (7).

As the novel progresses, the narrator becomes less involved in the story. Less commentary is provided that would take the reader out of the story, such as the above examples. Instead, the narrator continues to provide information about Elizabeth, her thoughts, and her experiences.

Elizabeth’s view is of an aging woman who is questioning her place. She is known for her older novels. She grapples with her relevance and standing in the literary world.

By the end of the novel...