Point of View

There are two key aspects to consider about the point of view of Peyton Place. The first is purely technical, or craft based. It's narrated from the third person objective point of view, and shifts from person to person depending on which character is in narrative focus. In other words, when the chapter is focused on Allison, her thoughts and feelings and reactions are known and examined by the narrative voice—when it's Norman, the same happens for him, or for Selena, or even minor characters like Elsie Thornton, Marion Partridge, or Kenny Stearns. The author gets into the minds and hearts and experiences of all her characters. It might not be going too far to suggest that by doing so, she in fact gets into the mind and heart and soul of the town.

The second key aspect of point of view to consider...