Point of View

Lucy Snowe tells the story in first person. Lucy is an oddly secretive narrator. She withholds any details about what happens to her before or after the novel. By doing this, she becomes a background element in the story of her own life. Lucy is an observer. She strives to be quiet and stay in the background, because this allows her the best perspective from which to study others. She is able to describe details about characters' personalities and motivations that would not be apparent to a casual observer, even one who has known the subject for a long time. This insight provides the reader with clear, honest views of the world that Lucy lives in. Lucy strives to be truthful and always makes an attempt to mention a character's faults as well as virtues.

Lucy's quiet nature makes it easy for her to observe scenes...