Point of View

The novel is told in the third person with an omniscient narrator. Just as the novel jumps around in time, giving the picture of Meridian's life from different angles, it also jumps from point of view to point of view, giving a picture from different angles of Meridian and of the Civil Rights Movement. The first part of the novel is told mainly from Meridian's point of view, but it also shows her mother's thoughts and feelings, as well as Anne-Marion's impressions of Meridian.

The second part of the novel, focusing on Truman and Lynne, shows events from both characters' points of view. The reader is able to see Truman's perspective and his doubts about Lynne as a white woman. The reader is able to see Lynne's horror and guilt. The writer even shows Tommy Odd's thoughts, and the reader can see his rage and his...