Narrative Voice, Part 2

Reading for plot, characters, and setting is an obvious place to start. However, when we learn to read on a deeper level, we shift our attention from the who, what, and where questions in literature and start to consider how and why the author is making the choices that he or she makes with a text. Narrative Voice is the sum of the choices that the author makes when creating a text.

Image note: Spanish Mountains by Dora Carrington, 1924.

Narrative Voice and Musical Artists

Consider the following short story: “In America, a boy and girl fall in love and get married.”

Obviously, it has a setting, two characters, and a plot. However, there isn’t any developed narrative voice (unless of course, this is ironically short to prove some other point). But this story is constantly played out in books, movies, songs, and real life, and each time whoever decides to create the story builds a narrative voice. The narrative voice is conveyed with the point of view, the details, the descriptions, the conflict, events, how the action rises, and about 100 other choices. There are so many options that the analysis of the narrative voice can be overwhelming.

So instead of focusing on specific terms, a good single question to ask yourself when considering narrative voice is the following:

How does the way the author writes a story or poem affect our understanding of the text?

This might become clearer with examples from our two required stories.

Narrative Voice Analysis

Let’s try to put this into practice with our two stories.

"Hills Like White Elephants"

Let's begin with "Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway. Select each descriptor of narrative voice to read the in-depth analysis.

Narrative Distance

Narrative distance is characterized by Hemingway's minimalist style, focusing on sparse dialogue and external actions rather than delving into characters' inner thoughts. This distance creates a sense of ambiguity, inviting readers to infer the emotional complexities of the American man and the woman. The objective narration keeps the characters somewhat enigmatic, emphasizing surface-level details and leaving room for interpretation. This narrative technique engages readers in actively deciphering the unspoken tensions and choices, contributing to the enduring intrigue of the story.

Minimalism and Third-Person Narration

Hemingway's narrative voice in "Hills Like White Elephants" is characterized by minimalism and his famous Iceberg Theory. The narrative reveals only the surface of the characters' dialogue and actions, leaving much unsaid and open to interpretation. The iceberg theory suggests that the deeper meaning and emotions lie beneath the surface, and readers must infer them. This narrative technique creates a sense of ambiguity and invites readers to engage actively in interpreting the story.

Emphasis on Dialogue

The story primarily relies on dialogue between the American man and the woman, with minimal exposition or description. The dialogue is fragmented and often consists of terse, seemingly mundane exchanges. The narrative voice through dialogue offers glimpses into the characters' emotions, fears, and the underlying tension in their relationship. The unsaid and the gaps in communication become significant, allowing readers to decipher the subtext and the unspoken issues between the characters.

Objective and Neutral Tone

Hemingway's narrative voice maintains an objective and neutral tone. The author refrains from explicitly expressing the characters' emotions or providing detailed insights into their thoughts. This detached narrative style allows readers to draw their own conclusions and interpretations. The neutrality of the narrative voice adds to the story's complexity, prompting readers to analyze the characters' motivations, desires, and the implications of their choices.

"The Yellow Wallpaper"

Next up, let's look at "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman-Stetson. Select each descriptor of narrative voice to read the in-depth analysis.

First Person Narrative

The story is presented through a first-person narrative, with the protagonist (the narrator) providing a personal and subjective account of her experiences. This choice of perspective allows readers to directly access the protagonist's thoughts and emotions, providing an intimate view of her descent into madness. The first-person narrative also contributes to the sense of confinement and isolation experienced by the narrator, as readers are limited to her perspective.

Unreliable Narration

As the story progresses, the narrative voice becomes increasingly unreliable, reflecting the narrator's deteriorating mental state. The protagonist's descriptions become more fragmented, disjointed, and obsessive, creating a sense of disorientation for the reader. This aspect of the narrative voice enhances the portrayal of the protagonist's descent into madness and underscores the oppressive nature of the domestic environment.

Rich Symbolism and Vivid Imagery

The narrative voice employs rich symbolism and vivid imagery to convey the protagonist's inner turmoil and the oppressive atmosphere surrounding her. The use of the yellow wallpaper as a symbol for the narrator's mental state is particularly notable. The narrative voice describes the wallpaper in intricate detail, reflecting the protagonist's fixation on it and providing readers with insights into her psyche. Symbolic language and imagery contribute to the overall atmospheric and psychological impact of the story.

Stream of Consciousness

The narrative voice employs a stream-of-consciousness narrative technique to vividly depict the protagonist's inner thoughts and emotional unraveling. Through fragmented and disjointed narration, readers gain direct access to the protagonist's deteriorating mental state as she grapples with her confinement and the oppressive symbolism of the yellow wallpaper. Repetitive patterns of thought underscore the protagonist's fixation on the wallpaper, intensifying the story's psychological impact. The use of stream of consciousness blurs the boundaries between the narrator's subjective reality and hallucinations, contributing to the overall atmospheric and unsettling tone of the narrative.

Practice Activity

Now that you've looked at the analyses, can you match details to a particular story? Practice now to check your understanding.

Reflection

Narrative voice is an intricate topic as it encompasses all elements contributing to the construction of a text. We will delve deeper into this concept throughout the course; so, if it seems challenging now, rest assured that understanding will improve as you analyze narrative voice across various authors. Currently, focusing on discerning how first-person and third-person narration impact our perception of a text is commendable progress. For the rest of the unit, we will focus on a more subconscious way that authors and readers construct meaningful archetypes.

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