Point of View

The novel Mary Barton is told from a third person, omniscient point of view. The narrator describes events from several characters' point of view. While primarily following Mary Barton, the narrator can look into the psyche of John Barton, Jem Wilson, or many other characters. This gives the reader a fuller understanding of what motivates each of the characters and what drives them to commit the deeds they do. In the beginning, the narrator frequently follows John Barton, but as the murder happens and the investigation begins, he drops out of the picture for some time. The narrator also addresses the reader directly at times, revealing things that none of the characters know, or offering advice or an opinion on the events of the novel. For example, just before Mrs. Carson discovers her son has been killed, the narrator describes how she is a weak woman...