Point of View

The point of view of Ilustrado changes numerous times throughout the novel, but is primarily in the present tense first person from Miguel's perspective. The reader becomes invested in Miguel's quest for answers, as the mystery of Crispin's death is explored through Miguel's perspective. However, the reader is also able to gain another perspective on the novel's events from a mysterious third person omniscient narrator, which the reader later learns is the voice of Crispin Salvador. Information provided by the third person narrator and inconsistencies in Miguel's narration make the reader realize that Miguel is an unreliable narrator. He frequently omits information or only reveals it later in the novel, despite his promise in Chapter 2 to "tell the truth" (47). Miguel narrates his memories in the past tense.

The voice of the third person narrator gradually becomes more present in the novel, signaling a shift in...