Point of View

The book is written in the third person. From this vantage point, the reader can be shown the thinking of many of the characters. The main identification is with Turtle, but the reader often sees things from Judge Ford's viewpoint, too. Although there's a big difference in their ages, Turtle and Judge Ford are both strong willed, independent, and highly intelligent; both Turtle and Judge Ford are also superior chess players. Both also have a hard exterior that hides the vulnerability inside.

The viewpoints of the other heirs are shown to varying degrees, and the author uses this skillfully. For instance, Doctor Jake Wexler is one of the characters with whom we don't spend much time. However, in just a few short sentences, we feel his kind nature and his relaxed, humorous outlook on the world.

Setting

The Westing Game was first published in 1978 and was...