Point of View of Clear Light of Day

Style
Point of View

The story is told entirely in third person, by an omniscient narrator. Each, section,
however, concentrates on a specific character and takes place in a different time
period. Part 1 concentrates primarily on Tara and her arrival at the house. Her
observations of the sameness of the house and its inhabitants provide the reader with
his/her initial descriptions and characterizations of the characters. Part 2 goes back in
time to when the children were growing up, and centers primarily on Bim. The reader
is given a completely different outlook on the characters and rationalizations for their
behavior in the first section as adults. Part 3 also takes place during the children's
childhood and focuses mainly on the two sisters and their differing experiences in
school, as well as their relationship and differing personalities. The reader learns a
great deal about them through interactions as children that relate directly to their
relationship as adults.

Part 4 goes back in time again to Tara's visit to the house as an adult, and concludes
the novel with a truce between the sisters. By telling the story in four parts and
centering each of the parts on a different character, Desai is able to create complete
characterizations of each of the main characters and provide her readers with a
thorough understanding of each of them. By alternating the focus of each of the parts
on the thoughts and feelings of the two main characters, Desai is able to fully
characterize each of them. The readers are able to understand and sympathize with
both characters as they view the world through their eyes, rather than just one or the
other.

Posted by Mrs. Buffonge.