The language and meaning of the story is given through the backwards words and actions of Tod/John/Hamilton/Odilo as witnessed by the narrator. The reader sees the narrator trying to make sense of Tod's twisted life. While the narrator understands many things that are going on, actually appreciating more than his host Tod/John/Hamilton/Odilo at many points in the story, he also misunderstands many events in his backwards context. In this perspective, good often seems bad and visa versa.