Point of View

There are two equally important aspects to the novel's point of view. On a technical (narrative) level, the story is told from the third person omniscient point of view - that is, with narration exploring the perspectives and experiences of all the characters. Most are glimpsed only in passing, with the incidents in their lives and their reactions parsed as vignettes, vividly drawn glimpses of humanity rather than the full-blooded reflections on feeling and reaction that the narrative develops for the major characters. By contrast, Homer's experiences and reactions are explored in considerable depth, meaning that most of the narrative (in terms of both event and theme) is communicated from his point of view, with each of the other major characters (Mrs. Macauley, Ulysses, Mr. Spangler) and a couple of the lesser ones (Lionel, Tobey) also receiving their moments of narrative focus.

On a thematic level...