Point of View

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer discusses point of view, the perspective from which a story is told. The writer maintains that the first person point of view helps to develop the story and add to emotional impact. The writer notes that it is often that a point of view defines a story as a critical element, and this is the case in both John Updike's "A&P" and William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily." The writer points out that both stories share the first person point of view, meaning that one view is intimately related to the reader, and this view is perhaps biased from the perspective of the narrator, not the author. This contributes to the story, as in both Updike's and Faulkner's short stories, the perspective of the narrator helps to illustrate the themes and concepts of the story that would not otherwise be possible from a third person point of view. The writer concludes that in both the stories discussed, the narrator becomes a character through his or her point of view, and the power of this element of literature regardless of the particular point of view is demonstrated.

From the Paper:

"In comparing the use of the narrator between these two short stories, the varied possibilities of the use of point of view are clearly evident, but very different. Faulkner's use of point of view allows the reader to make conclusions, which is contrast to Updike's use of the first person in which Sammy tells the reader what he has learned. Sammy is also an actor in the story, and while the narrator of Faulkner's work participates, but does not partake in any action that directly impacts the plot of the work. As both of these short stories use point of view to accomplish their point, they do so in a highly contrasting fashion which illustrates the flexibility and power of point of view, in particular that of the first person."
"The use of the first person point of view in both stories, albeit different, allows the author's to accomplish things that would not otherwise be possible. The narrator becomes a character and takes on a persona, either that of an entire town over many years or of one individual in a short given amount of time."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Faulkner, William. "A Rose for Emily"" 10 Apr. 2007 <http://www.ariyam.com/docs/lit/wf_rose.html>.
• "Literary Terms." CUNY. 26 Feb. 2002. 9 Apr. 2007 <http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/lit_term.html>.
• Updike, John. "A&P." 1961. 5 Apr. 2007 <http://www.tiger-town.com/whatnot/updike/>.

More papers on Point of View:

• Analytical Essay # 123832 : "Point of View of 'Daisy Miller'"
• Book Review # 147858 : "Distant Point of View in "A Rose For Emily"
• Analytical Essay # 144386 : "George Ade's Preservationist Point of View"

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