Point of View

The entire novel is written in the first person, through Amelia Peabody Emerson's view and thoughts. This restricts the reader to only those events which are observed or experienced by Amelia. Other events or thoughts are outlined in the novel by Amelia being told what happened by another character, usually her husband.

Amelia sees the world as rather messy, awaiting her methodical and accurate hand to set it to rights. Her personality is outlined and her character sketched out in every sentence and action. She constantly speaks to the reader of the story, using "gentle" and "dear" to express her affection for the ones who chose to read her memoirs. Her stilted style of speaking makes it appear that everyone is behaving with extreme politeness and consideration for others, apologizing for errors and misunderstandings and behaving indignantly when a woman's honor is impugned. However, human nature...