Point of View

Frankl uses an autobiographical style of writing to effectively illustrate his main theme, that humans have a fundamental need to discover meaning within their lives. The writing begins by discussing Frankl's personal experiences as a prisoner in the concentration camps. He reflects back in time often writing in the past tense to relay his feelings and recall his behaviors as he endured this ordeal. Through this method, he provides first-hand accounts to vividly reveal a deplorable environment of suffering and death. Although told from his own point of view, Frankl notes that his experiences and perceptions were common among many prisoners. After using the autobiographical style to create a foundation, Frankl moves to a more clinical style of writing where he interjects his professional beliefs of human psychology in the third person. In doing so, Frankl is able to provide a tangible life for his theoretical...