Point of View

The novel is told from the point of view of an omniscient narrator, a narrator that has access to the thoughts, feelings, and motivations of every character, even the least consequential, like Frances' financial adviser Mr. Baker. The narrator shifts frequently from one character's consciousness to the next, sometimes creating a dizzying effect as the reader attempts to keep track of each person's thoughts and how they are affecting the actions in the plot.

These frequent shifts also create a fuller picture of each scene for the reader, particularly when two characters are feeling similar emotions. In the first scene between Susan and Malcolm, in a single paragraph, the reader is told that “Susan's eyes were the color of honey; it hurt Malcolm to look at them” and that “Susan watched [Malcolm] disappearing in his seat and wished to hit him, kiss him” (18). These characters...