Point of View

Actress is told from Norah's point of view. Her narration switches between the first-person, second-person and third-person. Each of the points of view reflect the main modes in which the story is conveyed. The first-person is used to describe Norah's life and direct experiences. The third-person is used to narrate events in Katherine's life for which Norah was not present. The source of Norah's knowledge that enables these narrations range from old media, such as newspapers and photos, to rumors, shared stories, and public opinion. The second-person is reserved for segments of the narration in which Norah addresses her husband directly.

We are not often required to question the reliability of Norah as a narrator. She is often very skeptical herself about the truth of the stories that she tells about her life and her family history. One of her main functions as the narrator...