Point of View

This novel is told from two different points of view. The majority of the story is told from the first-person point of view of Mireille. Using Mireille’s point of view to describe her experiences while being held in captivity as well as her recovery is the only way that Gay could have told this story completely. As Mireille tells the reader what she was put through, the reader develops a deep emotional bond with Mireille. For instance, the reader understands Mireille’s strength when she writes: “When he (the Commander) looked at me I did not look away. I did not cower. He would not break me. I could not be broken” (104). The use of the first-person point of view also allows Mireille to be able to share her weaknesses with her reader. For instance, Mireille feels particularly vulnerable around TiPierre because he tries...