Point of View

The Night Watchman is narrated by a third-person, non-exegetic narrator. “Non-exegetic” means that the narrator is not explained within the novel; this is not a character reminiscing, nor is there a frame narrative.

In most chapters, the narrator is limited to a single perspective character, most often Thomas or Patrice. The author uses the technique of free indirect discourse to give the reader access to character’s thoughts, emotions, and reactions without using speaker tags. A passage of heightened emotion for Thomas serves as a good illustration: “He fell, went down hard, lay there stunned. It was as if he’d been dashed to earth like a toy. Without warning, they threw you down. That’s how it was to live with them. Oh it was! Thomas had studied them. He had striven in every way to be like his teachers. And every boss. He...