Point of View

The author employs a distinctive "frame within a frame" structure. All of the novel's "action" takes place in Artemio Cruz's mind as he lies on his deathbed. Yet, within that frame, there are several different points of view.

Often events are told from Catalina's point of view. As Cruz's estranged wife, it is unlikely that she would have shared her innermost thoughts and feelings with him, yet he sees scenes through her eyes - even when he was in another city. He also sees scenes through the eyes of Regina, his long-dead first love. He sees Lorenzo's death from his son's point of view, although they were in different countries at the time.

This particular technique allows Fuentes to introduce a much wider variety of material into the novel. It also implies the existence of God and of eternal life, though Cruz does not believe in...