Point of View

The novel is narrated from the first-person and a limited point of view. The narrator is somewhat reliable but decidedly biased in presentation. Narrative reliability is confounded by the narrator's admitted alcoholism. Thus, many scenes end when the narrator passes out and the action resumes when the narrator regains consciousness. While this could be utilized effectively in construction it generally is not and the moments when the narrator loses consciousness are random and do not contribute materially to the development of the text. The point of view is highly concentrated on Henry and the text has little room for consideration of the opinions, insights, or feelings of any other character.

Characters beyond the narrator are described only in the most general terms. Men are usually described only be reference to their presence, though a few are discussed at slightly more length. Women are in general described...