In five pages this short story by Edith Wharton is analyzed in terms of its point of view representation. Four other sources are cited in the bibliography.
Name of Research Paper File: JR7_RAwhrton.rtf
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the telling of the tale. There is, for example, a style that presents us with something of a mystery, as well as a story that symbolically illustrates how some things
in life remain solid and reliable. One of the most important elements of style in this story, however, is the point of view as we see the story unfold from
the perspective of the father. In the following paper we examine how Whartons story makes use of the element of point of view in creating a powerful story.
Point of View In understanding the importance of the element of point of view in Whartons story we must first understand something of the element of point of view. As
one author states, there are three questions which "determine point of view (who tells us the story and how it is told): is the one telling the story a character
in the story or not? how much is this person allowed to know? to what extent does the narrator look inside the characters and report their feelings and thoughts?" (Peterson
elements.html). In addition, the point of view often falls under three different categories. They are "first person (a character in the story), the infrequently used second person (addresses you), and
third person (not a character in the story)" (Peterson elements.html). From this basic understanding of the element of point of view we first note that Whartons story is told
in the third person, involving a narrator who does not exist within the story. But, at the same time we are given so many details that we almost feel as
though the father is telling us the story. We see feelings and thoughts and dreams to such a powerful extent that we imagine the story is being told in first