Point of View

This story is told through the use of a narrator who is uninvolved in the action of the story. This narrator, however, appears to be familiar with the actions and thoughts of all of the characters. It is almost as if he is watching the family and recording their interactions as they happen. Although the narrator seeks to tell the story in a straightforward manner, there are times when he addresses the reader directly. One example of this direct address of the reader occurs at the very beginning of the novel where the narrator explains the origin of "The Story of the Stone."

There is a good deal of dialogue in this book as well as a good deal of description. Along with telling what the characters are doing, the narrator tries to convey why they are doing what they are doing. For this reason, the...