Point of View

The Point of View in Hustvedt's novel is primarily first person, as told from Harriet's own voice and thoughts via her journals. However, there are sections where Harriet breaks into third person, as if she were chastising a child, and in other places where an interview or magazine article are included, then those are in third person. As an overall collection, there is a silent Narrator, called I.V. Hess who was the one that put together and edited the collection of materials to form the book. In this instance, then, it is an implied second person, which makes the entire novel a bit jarring.

Language and Meaning

The language utilized within the novel is often of an extremely advanced lexicon, which is in keeping with Harriet Burden's extreme intelligence. Had this character ever been tested, it is assured that she would have had a...