Point of View

Woolf constantly plays with perspective throughout the novel. For this reason, it is difficult to definitively name a main character. At times, it seems like it is Rachel, but at other moments, it seems as though the focus is more on Helen. The book ends with the peace Hirst feels as he watches life continue after the ordeal of Rachel's illness and death, and we follow with interest his character's shift in priorities, from career and intellectualism to love and meaningful relationships. Even beyond the shifts Woolf makes between major characters, she also takes the time to examine the inner life of marginal characters, showing scenes from their perspective to perhaps reveal some truths unavailable to the main character. This comes from Woolf's belief that everyone has a story and a complexity that could be overlooked through purely focusing on characters central to the novel's...