Point of View

The novel is narrated from the third-person, omniscient point of view by an unnamed narrator. Interior thoughts of characters are frequently revealed, though deep thoughts of only the primary protagonist, Catherine Morland, are considered at any length. The narrator is reliable and frequently intrusive, using the meta-fictional "I" in self-reference: the identity of the narrator is unknown and forms one of the more puzzling but enjoyable aspects of the novel. The narrator has special knowledge of all events and relates the narrative in the past tense, often intruding to provide heavy foreshadowing or explanations of symbolic elements in the text. Although highly reliable, the narrator obviously withholds facts until such a time as they can be delivered with greater impact upon the reader; humorously, the narrator bluntly states that this procedure is deliberate.

The third-person point of view is appropriate for the novel and makes the...