Point of View

Different sections of the book are narrated from different points of view. The "Prologue" and "Epilogue" are narrated in the first person voice of Stew Meat (see "Characters"), while the "Three Tales" themselves are narrated in a third person voice that is ostensibly that of Stew Meat, but which doesn't have the idiomatic, more intimate, more relaxed style of the "Prologue or the "Epilogue." In other words, while both "Prologue" and "Epilogue" contain interjections of Stew Meat's subjective commentary, the "Three Tales" themselves are told more objectively, even while they focus primarily on the experiences of the central characters of each tale. Polly's story focuses on Polly's perspective, Rowena's on Rowena's, Adam's on Adam's.

Meanwhile, it's also important to consider the piece's primary thematic point of view - specifically, its commentary on the dangers of buying into perceived illusion. Specifically, Rowena perceives perfection in Henry Piper...