Point of View

The Lowland, written by Jhumpa Lahiri, is written from two points of view, each emerging dependent on whether the author is discussing an earlier time period; or telling the ongoing story in its current time line. In the flash backs used to create context, the narrative is an omniscient perspective. When the story returns to its natural time line, the author uses an omniscient first person perspective, examining the multiple viewpoints of the main characters.

In the flashbacks, the author reveals details about Udayan's death from Gauri's perspective as she remembers her brief life with him. The story of their relationship is intertwined between the chapters that cover her relationship with Subhash; the birth of her daughter Bela; and her desertion of them both.

Regardless of the time line that is being discussed, the author consistently uses a present tense rather than a more conventional...