Point of View

Primarily, the story is told from the third person limited point of view – from the perspective of, and focusing on the experiences of, protagonist Cora. In general, this means that the perspectives, intentions, and actions of the other characters are viewed, or portrayed, in the same way as she would view, portray, or interpret them. It is important to note that even though the main story is told from Cora’s point of view, the narrative does not go too deeply into her inner life. There is not a great deal of explanation or exploration, of what she thinks, feels, or imagines. Much of what the reader learns about Cora comes through glimpses, albeit extremely vivid ones, of her psychological, emotional, or spiritual life. She is, nevertheless, a powerfully engaging and affecting protagonist.

Meanwhile, there are frequent shifts into the experiences, history, and point of...