Point of View

"The Old Nurse's Story" is told from the first-person point of view of Hester, an old woman reflecting on her experience as a nursemaid in her youth. The story is framed as if she is telling it to Rosamond's children many years after she and Rosamond spent their time at Furnivall Manor. This framing is significant because it reminds readers of the intimacy between Hester and Rosamond, and suggests that their relationship has only grown since their experience at Furnivall. The structure also reminds readers that, if not for Hester, Rosamond's life would have turned out very differently – now a mother of her own, Rosamond's encounters at Furnivall very well could have prevented her from living out the rest of her youth altogether.

Hester's perspective as the narrator is important for developing the mystery aspect of the story. She is portrayed early on as an...