Point of View

The story is presented in the third person from an omniscient point of view. The presentation is appropriate to the story. The perspective varies, depending on the focus of the story at that moment. For example, when the story is focused on Kristina and her desire that she have no more children, the story is presented from Kristina's perspective. There is an interesting change to the perspective after Robert's return home. Robert has an injury to one of his ears, the result of having been slapped on the side of the head by a former employer when he was younger. This injury has given him trouble for years and his ear has constantly buzzed, making it often difficult for him to hear well. After Robert's return to Karl's farm in Minnesota, Robert's ear "talks" to him. These conversations are one-sided and only Robert hears them, but...