Point of View

Stella Maris consists of a series of dialogues between Dr. Cohen, a psychiatrist, and Alicia, his patient. The text - only dialogue - alternates between these two speakers, but it is Alicia’s point of view that comes to the fore in their discussions. Her personal and familial history is mined for meaning, and her current thinking on metaphysical matters is exhaustively explored, all from her perspective in the first person.

Alicia opens the text in a challenging fashion, refuting the value of any kind of talk therapy, and she initially refuses to discuss certain topics, notably her brother Bobby. This suggests to the reader that she possesses secrets that she intends to guard, and will only partially reveal herself to Dr. Cohen (and the reader, by extension). But, she tends to gradually reveal more of herself as the conversations evolve, and her increasing openness...