Point of View

The novel is narrated by Tomás, who is the protagonist and sole point-of-view character. Tomás narrates in the first person and the past tense. The novel has a retrospective feeling, for not only is Tomás looking back on the events of 1976 from the perspective of 1986, but he also appears to be looking back on the events of 1986 from some later point in time. The 1986 storyline illustrates Tomás’ attempts to overcome his persistent sense of trauma, while the 1976 storyline explores the causes of those traumas. Also notable is Tomás’ infatuation with Isabel as a consistent facet of his perspective, as this infatuation is a primary motivation for many of his actions.

Although Tomás is the narrator and sole point-of-view character, the novel also develops the perspectives of other characters through action and dialogue. The resulting clashes in perspective directly contribute...