Point of View

John McGahern's Against Women is written in the third person with the focus on events affecting Moran and his family. The scope is tight, ignoring everything that had no direct bearing on Moran's interaction with the family. Their world was insular and inward looking, keeping a restraining tightness on the narrative.

The narrator is both honest and balanced in his portrayal of the characters. He is at times, sympathetic to Moran. He shows both his black and his light hearted moods. Moran's inner fears are revealed, as are his harsh exterior. The other characters are shown mostly in their relationship to Moran and the affect that he has on them.

The point of view is able to go into the minds of all of the characters and shows their true feelings against their outward actions or words. It shows their failings as well as their strengths...