Point of View

Nearly all of the novel is narrated in the first-person, past tense by Mei. The prologue and final chapter (Chapter 30) are narrated in the present tense by Mei. This point of view creates an intimacy between the reader and Mei as a narrator, thus making the story vivid. Since the novel is historical fiction, the first-person narration enhances the effect of the genre; it provides the reader with an idea of what the historical experience of Chairman Mao's rule might have felt like for people living through it. Unlike third person narration, first person narration provides direct insight into a character's thoughts and feelings. The point of view depicts Mei's thoughts and feelings. The first person point of view also creates an element of suspense. Since the reader knows the actual history of Chairman Mao's rule, the first person narration creates a dynamic between the...