Point of View

The novel alternates between the point of view of Madeleine and Mitchell, with the exception of “A Brilliant Move,” which is told from the perspective of Leonard. Alternating between Madeleine and Mitchell has the effect of underscoring the extent of Mitchell’s delusional preoccupation with Madeleine and his tendency to read greater significance into events than likely really occurred.

A key example of this is his memory of the first time he met Madeleine when, from Mitchell’s memory, he believes that he saw Madeleine accidentally expose her breast. Madeleine, in contrast, has no memory of this occurring. This does not necessarily imply that Mitchell imagined the incident, rather it underscores the extent to which Mitchell has gone over each encounter he has had with Madeleine hundreds of times in his mind, whereas to Madeleine each incident is less significant and the details have faded...