Point of View

The point of view used in the novel is third person. This viewpoint is necessary in that the thoughts and actions of a variety of characters is vital in presenting the themes of sexuality, violence, and morality throughout the novel. This point of view is also reliable, as shown by the constant knowledge of not only actions by the characters, but also of inner motivations and emotions. The extreme violence and downward spiral into insanity would not be as clear if the narrator was not able to discover the actions, thoughts, and emotions of all characters. The story is mostly told through descriptive narrative with small patches of dialog. This allows the reader to focus on the external reasons for character behaviors, such as the poverty of the area, the failure of school and other institutions, and the influences of others in the small town. Much...