Point of View

The end of the narrative reveals that Freddy is technically the narrator for the entire novel. However, the narration still functions almost exclusively in a third-person limited mode centered around Arthur’s perspective. The novel reconciles these facts with the idea that “the story of Arthur Less…is also mine [Freddy’s]. That is how it goes with love stories” (260). On a literal level, this implies that Arthur recounted his story to Freddy, who then recounts it to the reader through the medium of the novel. On a more metaphorical level, it means that Freddy can tell Arthur’s story as if it were his (Freddy’s) own, since their shared love creates an intimate bond between them.

However, disregarding that narrative quirk, the novel essentially functions from Arthur’s point of view. The third-person narration gives insights into Arthur’s thoughts, feelings, actions, and...