Point of View

Marjorie Agosin tells her novel “I Lived on Butterfly Hill” in the first-person limited-omniscient perspective from the point of view of main character and narrator, Celeste Marconi. The events of the novel—including life before, during, and after the revolution of the General, as well as time in America—are experienced by Celeste firsthand. As a result, she comes to narrate her own story, including through the use of letters, poetry, and journal entries which are all written in the first-person. This allows the reader an intimate glimpse into her innermost thoughts and feelings, which are especially important given the tragic conditions she is forced to endure much of the time. The limited-omniscient aspect of the narration adds a sense of realism, drama, and suspense to the novel, as neither Celeste nor the reader know how things are truly going to turn out in the...