Point of View

The novel is told entirely in third-person limited point of view. It follows Tess exclusively, and the reader only sees the world through her eyes. This means that their view on what she has gone through, her guilt, and her journey shifts alongside Tess herself. Occasionally, the narrator’s voice appears, usually to tell the reader how Tess would feel about a particular moment in the future. This is most obvious when she meets Anathuthia, as Tess herself is incapable of describing it in the moment, while the narrator tells the reader what conclusion she comes to once she has time to think. Despite this, the narrative always feels personal, as the author never shies away from Tess’ powerful and sometimes conflicting emotions. The readers connect with her because she is real, and the root for her because they see her suffering, and how much...