Point of View

The point of view has a fairly unique feature in using much switching from first to third person. For much of the text a first person point of view is used, while these parts alternate with other sections where a third person general observer point of view is used. A distinct shift is created by using a different person for Rosa to address her inner thoughts to in each of the three parts of the book. In the largest part of the book, Part I, Rosa, using a first person viewpoint, addresses her inner thoughts to Conrad repeatedly and explicitly, although Conrad is present in the book in scenes only from pp. 17 to 70.

In Part II of the book, starting on p. 214, many of the first person viewpoint statements and thoughts of Rosa are actually made for herself, although some are made to Katya, aka Madame...