Point of View

The narrative is recounted from the third person and omniscient point of view, exploring, commenting on, and revealing the perspectives of all its principle characters with equal attention. For example, in the opening scene in the dark London club, the narrative takes equal time to explore the circumstances and experiences of both Mrs. Wilkins and Mrs. Arbuthnot, giving them virtually equal narrative time and involving the reader in both their situations. The same point can also be made of Mrs. Fisher and Lady Caroline, once they enter the narrative stream. They too are given almost equal attention by the narrative, although there is the sense that they are explored and developed with just a degree or two less intensity and/or complexity than the other two characters.

The main virtue of this multifaceted point of view is to create a sense in the reader that the...