Point of View

The novel is written from the third person point of view. Throughout the novel, this third person narrator often assumes a free indirect stance. This means that in some passages, the narrator will shift in and out of specific characters’ consciousnesses. In other passages, the narrator will assume a more omniscient stance, describing the characters’ surroundings as if from the point of view of a divine or all-knowing entity. Most often, however, the narrator remains closest to Joe's perspective. For example, in Part I, the narrator is situated closest to Joe’s point of view. When Treacle Walker appears, the narrator is located inside the house with Joe as she describes the scene. After Treacle Walker calls repeatedly in the street, the narrator says: “Quick, Joe. Now, Joe. Joe pulled the patch down, got off his mattress on the top of the chimney cupboard and...