This narrative perspective allows a storyteller to recount events through the eyes of a single character. The narrator uses pronouns like “he,” “she,” or “they,” maintaining distance from the story’s action. However, unlike a fully omniscient viewpoint, access to internal thoughts and feelings is strictly limited to one individual within the narrative. For instance, the story might follow Sarah, revealing her anxieties about an upcoming presentation but leaving the reader unaware of what her colleagues are truly thinking about her performance. It offers a blend of intimacy and distance.
The strategic employment of this technique grants authors significant control over reader empathy and suspense. By carefully curating the information available to the audience, writers can manipulate perceptions and create specific emotional responses. Its usage dates back centuries, with variations appearing in diverse literary traditions. Its value lies in its ability to create deep character connections while retaining a degree of narrative control that a first-person perspective lacks, offering more insight than a purely objective viewpoint.
