Point of View

In Sinuhe the Egyptian author Mika Waltari speaks through the main character in the third person past tense. Sinuhe has been in exile from his beloved Thebes for years when he decides to record his memories to lighten his own heart. He expects that the texts will be destroyed on Pharaoh's orders when he dies, but his servant Muti has been preparing ways of hiding and thus preserving them. He claims to desire no immortality for his name. He writes for himself.

Nevertheless, Sinuhe takes pains to explain to the readers who might happen upon his words how he comes to live his life utterly alone while surrounded by people. From the start he hints that he suspects his true ancestry, but tells of his adoption and education as they occur. He never conceals shameful thoughts and passions and readily admits guilt for his actions and...