Point of View

The point of view of this novel is first person. The novel is written as though Lancelot, the main character, is having daily conversations with a priest-psychiatrist who happens to be a good friend of Lancelot's from his childhood. The conversations revolve around a crime that took place at Lancelot's home and that he is now accused of committing. Lancelot is in a mental institution in New Orleans and has up to this point refused to speak to anyone or to leave his room except when forced to attend a meeting with his psychiatrist or to go to group counseling sessions. Lancelot chooses only to speak to this one person, a friend whom upon seeing him again helped Lancelot recall the events that led to him being locked in this place.

The point of view of this novel is unique in that it is not a...