Perspective

My Family and Other Animals is a non-fiction story told from the perspective of Gerald Durrell. This point of view is limited as one is only privy to the mind of the main character who also narrates the novel. This perspective is important to the story, as the primary goal of the work is to convey Gerald Durrell's account of the abundant natural wonders on the island of Corfu. At times, the narrator takes on an omnipresent point of view as he recounts incidents that he was not present to witness. When Spiro informs Mrs. Durrell of Margo's rendezvous', it is obvious Gerald is not in the room. However, he retells the incident as though he has experienced it word for word.

The author utilizes narrative exposition to guide the reader through many sections of the story since Gerald spends many of his days alone with his dog...