Point of View

The majority of Vargas Llosa's novel is written in third-person perspective. However, Chapter 3's letter from Pochita to her sister Chichi and Brother Francisco's "Epistle to the Good Concerning the Wicked" in Chapter 9 are both written in first person. In addition, Chapter 9 also features articles from the newspaper El Oriente and Captain Pantoja's eulogy for Olga Arellano Rosaura ("the Brazilian"). In his eulogy, Pantoja refers to himself as "we." Also, Sinchi's radio broadcast in Chapter 7 (presented in the form of a transcript) is in first person. The use of various perspectives gives the narrative texture. By including letters, radio broadcast transcripts, news accounts and military communications, as well as brief accounts of several of Captain Pantoja's nightmares, the author manages to broaden the scope of the work. Part chronicle, part standard novel, Captain Pantoja and the Special Service develops a life of its own. The overall...