Point of View

The Guide is written from the third person point of view. Over the course of the novel, this third person narrator follows main character Jack's perspective most intimately. The narrator, therefore, has access to Jack's most private thoughts and feelings. This point of access inspires the frequent narrative flashbacks into scenes from Jack's past. The author establishes this relationship between the narrator and Jack in the prologue. In the latter passages of the section, the narrator inhabits Jack's consciousness, delivering his thoughts in the form of the overarching narration. One such passage appears as follows: "August. Best time of year to fish. From now straight through September. He didn't need to be on the ranch. Pop would be all right...when wasn't he" (11)? The reader, therefore, understands that throughout the chapters that follow, the narrative will be driven by Jack's internal conflicts. Indeed, as circumstances...