Point of View

The Magician is told through third person limited narration, from Thomas’ point of view. This means that while the reader is privy to Thomas’ innermost thoughts and feelings, the opinions of his family members are left up for debate. This style of narration remains consistent throughout the novel and is especially useful when it comes to understanding Thomas’ true feelings, as he is inherently guarded and secretive.

The narrator reflects character growth through descriptions of Thomas’ ever-evolving outlook. At the start of the novel, Thomas is a self-centered youth who thinks mostly of himself and his literary ambitions. His childishness can be observed in the selfish direction his thoughts take following his father’s death. The narrator says, “No matter where they went in the world, the Manns of Lübeck would never be known as they had been known when the senator was alive...