Point of View

The book is written by a third-person narrator who chronicles the storylines of three main characters – Juvenal, Fermina and Florentino. Occasionally the author slips into a first-person tone, specifically when talking about the country of Colombia. This usually presents itself by use of the word “our” and is generally in isolation. For the most part, the story is told by an omniscient narrator who is able to convey the events, thoughts and feelings of all of the characters in the novel.

Though three main characters are examined, the mentality of Florentino is explored in the greatest detail. This gives readers a central character of focus in the storyline and someone to relate all of the events to. Florentino is both sympathetic and appalling at different points in the book which lends a sense of reality to his character. By placing the focus on Florentino’s...