Point of View

The point of view of In Five Years is first person, exclusively through the eyes and feelings of Dannie Kohan, who narrates the novel. Dannie’s point of view is most significant, and her first person perspective creates empathy for her character. Serle’s use of present tense creates even greater intimacy with Dannie and the reader, evoking the feeling that the audience is contemporarily experiencing the plot with Dannie. Dannie’s narration switches to future tense for the last few paragraphs of the novel in “After” to evoke the uncertainty of the future, for Dannie and the reader. Dannie is the only major character who knows about her premonition, as she keeps it a secret to all her loved ones. Dannie’s perspective allows the reader to feel the suspense of the events of December 15th and feel Dannie’s inner turmoil, the most...