Point of View

The novel’s narration is written in the present tense and the limited third person, specifically from Antonia’s perspective. Thus, although Antonia is not the narrator, the narration still often conveys Antonia’s thoughts and feelings directly to the reader. Antonia’s emotional journey is central to the shaping of the narrative, as the novel often focuses on the ways in which altruism can take an emotional toll on a person. At the beginning of the main storyline Antonia is still in a state of grief and disorientation following the death of her husband. Thus, when she learns of Estela and Izzy’s predicaments, she is consistently reluctant to help them, due to the stressful nature of doing so. Nonetheless, she fulfills her moral obligations, as idleness and apathy would likely cause her more stress and guilt.

Although Antonia is the only character whose...