Point of View

The book is written from a third-person narrative point of view almost exclusively focused on Enid's perspective. Clowes does not use an omniscient point of view, however. Like all the other characters, Enid's thoughts are not known unless she speaks them, but Enid is the only character whose dialogue is used to narrate flashbacks. The flashbacks happen a number of times throughout the story and can involve an elaborate plot mechanism to setup. For instance, when Enid describes losing her virginity, it is done by Enid explaining to Rebecca that she told the story to their mutual acquaintance Naomi. Naomi only appears once again in the book and even then only in an old photograph, so the character exists almost entirely as a plot device that Clowes uses to allow Enid to tell an important story from her past.

Although the story focuses on Enid, it...