Point of View

Circle of Friends uses a third person omniscient narrator. The narrator is reliable, providing both an objective view of events that take place in the novel and an insight into the thoughts and emotions of the characters. Using a third-person narrator works best for this book because there are a large number of characters, many of whom are quite complex and many go through substantial emotional turmoil as the plot progresses. If the book were written in the first person from Benny's point of view, for example, the author would not be able to provide insights into Nan's thought process as she considers what to do about her pregnancy or give the reader a sense of Jack's feelings of guilt when he begins sleeping with Nan behind Benny's back. Using a third person narrator also enables the author to include both long and short scenes...