Point of View

The first element to note in relation to this story’s point of view is that it is consistently told from the first person perspective of its narrator, Dr. Louise Banks. The experiences are hers; the insights, commentary, and analysis are hers; and the overall journey of transformation is hers. It is also important to note that this perspective is limited, in that the narration only lets the reader into the inner life of Dr. Banks herself. Any commentary or perspective on the inner lives of any of the other characters is shaped by how Dr. Banks experiences and reacts to what those other characters say and do. In the case of this story, this specific aspect of point of view is worthy of particular note, in it can be seen as reflective of the book’s thematic interest in the principles and practices of...