Point of View

The narrative is written from the first person past tense point of view. This functions to draw the reader immediately and intimately into the perspective of narrator/protagonist Hank Chinaski, That perspective comes across in different ways at different times. Often Hank presents events and circumstances in a fairly straightforward way, essentially saying "This happened then that happened", leaving room for the reader to come to his/her own conclusions about the meaning and significance of events and situations described. At other times, there is the sense that while Hank is essentially telling the truth about what happens, and is offering his insights into why it happened, he doesn't really believe it IS the truth. In other words, without actually coming out and saying "it's only a movie", there is the very strong sense that this is Hank's general attitude ... and, because Hank is and/or...