Point of View

The novel is written in first person from the sole perspective of Miriam Horton. The limited perspective means the reader knows only what Miriam knows. Miriam seems to make every effort to be forthcoming and truthful, but there are limitations on Miriam's ability to be a reliable narrator. She is young, female, and the daughter of Reverend Samuel Horton. All of these factors have an effect on her ability to be a reliable narrator. Samuel is a strict father and spiritual leader. For her entire life, Miriam has accepted whatever her father says without question, including what her role should be in her family and the church. This means that Miriam is dismissed from many of the conversations that are reserved just for men. It also means that her father is not interested in answering Miriam's spiritual questions. Miriam knows that Samuel believes women are...