Point of View

The novel employs a limited third-person point of view and is told by a narrator who remains unnamed until the last few pages. This choice allows the narrator to focus on the story she is closest to, that of her mother, and gives readers insight into what is going on in her mother's head at times. For example, when she is afraid, as when she kills both Paris and Mr. Roget and when she burns down the house, readers feel her fear and know that she's right. Thus Lilith emerges as a sympathetic character as opposed to a cold-blooded murderess. Through Lilith's thoughts, readers also see her mature. She asks questions and comes to her own conclusions. As she does not really have anyone to confide in, without these insights readers would not understand Lilith's growth or might not be able to see it at...