Point of View

Most of the story is told from a third person objective viewpoint. For most of the narrative, the reader is kept outside the heads of the characters. Their thoughts are unknown. This means that Ronin must communicate passion and emotion through visual media. Characters frown, laugh, and cry. Characters speak emphatically with words in bold type, or with specially-designed word balloons that draw attention to the dialogues' significance. The overall effect inspires sympathy rather than empathy, leaving the reader external to the world of Ronin and not privy to its underlying secrets.

In a few instances, the reader is allowed in the head of Billy, but this serves more as a story within a story rather than pure exposition. Instead of expressing simple thoughts or emotions, these mental intrusions tell the reader something of Billy's fantasies, his hopes and fears, and the events of his past...