Understanding the Narrative Struggle: Analyzing the Use of Point of View Across Genres to Address How Personal Relationships, Self-Image and Awareness are Affected by Racism and an Intolerant Society
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Authors
Williams, Kayla
Issue Date
2024-10-31
Type
Language
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Abstract
The literary device point of view, or P.O.V., is the lens in which the reader views a story
and shapes the perception of a story’s conflict. In novels and memoirs, this technique becomes
the crucial key of understanding character motivation and the way the reader perceives the
narrative struggles. Point of view bonds the reader to the protagonist or main character, and
connects the reader emotionally to an issue or conflict. In writing about sensitive issues and
topics, point of view can be the way to effectively convey the impact of a situation or an event; it
can provide perspective on unfamiliar situations. In novels focused on marginalized characters,
in this case, people affected and targeted by racism embedded in society, point of view can be
the way to communicate the existence of two different Americas, the black experience and the
white experience. Point of view becomes a method to convey how racism can negatively impact
relationships, self-image and how someone is treated.