Point of View

The novel is written from Zuckerman’s perspective; the narration uses the first person and the past tense. Thus, the novel is filtered through Zuckerman’s thoughts and experiences, even as he becomes acquainted with other characters’ perspectives by interacting with them. Zuckerman’s perspective is deeply characterized by his feeling of personal alienation in his old age, as his failing health and his decade of isolation have created some profound challenges in his attempt to reenter New York society. Zuckerman’s perspective also relies upon his writing and imagination as a means of processing his own feelings. The most central example of this dynamic is when Zuckerman writes fictional dialogues between himself and Jamie ad a means of processing his unfulfilled attraction towards Jamie.

Despite the fact that the novel is written consistently from Zuckerman’s perspective, the novel derives much of its drama...