Point of View

Kaikeyi is told in the first-person point-of-view through the viewpoint of Kaikeyi. While it is clear that she is reflecting on the story from the future- as shown by her occasional mentions of how people come to see her in the end- the story feels as if she is experiencing it in the present. This is extremely important from a narrative and tone standpoint because it mirrors the feeling of the Ramayana, or the epic that the novel is retelling. The reader is also rewarded for knowing at least the general idea of the Ramayana, as many of Kaikeyi’s comments or decisions provide unique context that is not explored in the original. For example, Kaikeyi tells the reader of her eventual betrayal at the very beginning of the novel, but implores them to let her tell her story before making judgements. All of her...