Point of View

The Family Under the Bridge is written in a third person narrative. The primary focus is on Armand and his journey from being a solitary hobo to wanting to preserve the family life that he’s now found. His character influences those around him as he tries to understand and explain why people act and treat people the way they do.

At the beginning of the novel, Armand celebrates the freedom of his lifestyle and maintains a positive outlook. He’s been along long enough that he resists the notion of sharing his life with others. Meeting the children under the bridge forces Armand’s perspective to change. The reader gets to know Armand the best.

Madame Cacet’s point of view is one largely of embarrassment. She can’t believe that her family has fallen this far in society. She distances herself in actions...