Point of View

Although Cosmopolis is written in the third person, the narrative is still restricted to Eric’s perspective, and the third-person narration, instead of being omniscient, is limited to Eric’s thoughts and feelings. On the other hand, much of the narrative is concerned with the juxtaposition of Eric’s perspective and the personal views of others, but the novel explores these juxtapositions through Eric’s own experiences and contemplations. Eric begins the novel with a generally firm grasp on his own view of the world, but the turbulence and uncertainty of the events and interactions in the story compel Eric towards a much more nihilistic view of the world.

The only other perspective given directly in the novel is that of Benno Levin, and ironically, Levin’s perspective is technically conveyed more directly that that of Eric, as Levin’s journal entries are written in...