Point of View

The story is told in the first person. The narrator asserts that he is also the author, having chosen to chronicle his experiences in Fairy Land. The thoughts and feelings of other characters are not known unless verbalized to the narrator. In fact, very few people are identified by proper names. The use of the first-person allows the reader to become intimately associated with the story and take part in Anodos' travels through Fairy Land. The reader can easily become the "I" of the story and move into the main character's position. This quality seems to be what George MacDonald desired for his readers when he wrote Phantastes. The first person perspective allows the reader to experience Anodos' journey first hand. Perhaps George MacDonald intended for each reader to take a personal journey through Fairy Land in order to lose their Shadow.

Setting

The story opens...