Point of View

Philip K. Dick tells the story in the third person, but in general through the eyes of Joe Chip. Occasionally, Dick will enter the thoughts of another character. For example, when Al and Joe wait for an elevator at the Runciter co-operation, Dick describes the old-fashioned elevator only Al sees. However, as the story continues and characters such as Al die, Joe has to fend for himself; Dick shows this by concentrating almost entirely on Joe's thoughts and actions. The exception is when Dick focuses on Runciter. Dick uses the point of view of Runciter to show Runciter is living an entirely different reality. While Joe is in half-life, Runciter is apparently alive and trying to help his dead employees.

Though Dick tells the story through one character, the point of view is generally reliable as Joe is trying to make sense of an unreliable and...