Point of View

The perspective of the narrative generally switches between Doremus’ point of view and an omniscient perspective addressing changes in the nation at large. When dealing with the local events of Fort Beulah, the novel generally adheres to Doremus’ point of view in order to focus the narrative. Doremus also serves as the moral compass for the narrative, synthesizing the lessons and morals of the novel’s events through Doremus’ thoughts and experiences. The novel very rarely takes on the point of view of other Fort Beulah residents, but it occasionally does so in order to develop themes or further the plot. Examples of this include the very first scene of the novel and the scene in Chapter 33 where Mary assassinates Effingham Swan. The parallel narrative describes the larger political movements affecting the country, specifically the rise of Windrip’s fascist dictatorship. This narrative is related...