Point of View

"The Man in the Iron Mask" is told through a third-person narrator that follows several characters' points of view. While primarily following D'Artagnan, the narrator also follows other main characters, like King Louis XIV, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. This gives the reader a fuller sense of what motivates each of the characters, and what drives them to commit the deeds they do. In the beginning, the narrator frequently follows Aramis, but as the kidnapping plot is foiled, the focus shifts more to D'Artagnan and his work as captain of the musketeers. The narrator also addresses the reader directly at times, revealing things that none of the characters know, or offering advice or an opinion on the events of the novel. For example, when Porthos dies, the narrator takes time to lament his passing and note his accomplishments in a eulogy. This technique makes the narrator seem...