Point of View

Under the Whispering Door is told in the third-person point-of-view, but focuses entirely on the thoughts and emotions of the main character, Wallace Price. This means that everything in Hugo's world is introduced through the eyes of someone who has never experienced it and knows nothing about life after death. Other characters mention this, such as Mei who teases Wallace for not knowing the legend of Charon, the ferryman of the underworld. Therefore, the author uses Wallace's self-imposed isolation to give the other characters a reason to explain things to him, while also exploring his regret for not enjoying life when he had it. The close perspective on Wallace's emotions also provides insight into his anger, despair, joy, and wonder, all in equal measure. Every feeling Wallace expresses is important to the story because his character growth relies on these emotions.

This seamless blend of...