Angela Carter never explicitly identifies the narrator of her short story, but she gives the reader several "clues." Who do you think our narrator is, and what "clues" can you identify in the text to support your claim?
The first thing that I noticed when I read this story is that there were some lapses in tense. Some parts of the story were narrated from the third person point of view but other parts seemed like they were more personal and detailed. One example is on page 178 when the narrator says “But nobody here is up and about, yet… This is a present tense and it sounds as if the narrator is actually in the house. There are also many details that only someone on the “inside” would know. One example is the description of the heat on page 177.The description is so vivid and detailed that it seems like the narrator can actually feel it. There are also details that describe how Lizzie sleeps that only someone who was up close and watching her could know. The description of the house is also something that only an insider would know.
I was trying to figure out who could be narrating the story, but then Carter starts to portray Lizzie as mentally unstable. She has a lapse in memory when the house is robbed and wakes up in the middle of her room. This made me very suspicious. Then there was the dark man who “Miss Russell knew was a figment of Lizzie’s imagination.” Lizzie's mental instability makes me believe that she has multiple personality disorder. I looked online and the definition of this condition is: a psychiatric disorder characterized by having at least one "alter" personality that controls behavior. The "alters" are said to occur spontaneously and involuntarily, and function more or less independently of each other.” Now things started to make sense. I think that the narrator is one of Lizzie’s alter personalities. There is sufficient evidence to support that she does indeed have another personality. The biggest clue to support this idea is on page 189: “There is a mirror on the dresser in which she sometimes looks at those times when time snaps in two and then she sees herself with blind, clairvoyant eyes, as though she were another person. Lizzie is not herself today.” There is further evidence on pg 185: “She endured occasional peculiar spells, odd lapses of behavior, unexpected involuntary trances and moments of disconnection.” I think that it makes sense that the alter personality is the narrator because some parts of the story are told from the 3rd person point of view yet other parts are more up close and personal from almost a first person account.
Throughout Angela Carter’s short story “The Fall River Axe Murders” she never directly establishes a narrator that the audience is made aware of. From this it is up to the reader to decide a valid narrator through the detection of Carter’s implicit clues. In my opinion,Carter utilizes numerous situations to make the reader aware of the true narrator. From the beginning one is made aware that the narrator was there for the occurrences of all events. In particular when describing the burglary and how “the intruder knocked the clutter of this and that on the dresser floor,”(Carter 181) or how on the morning of the murder “the weather clings like a low fever you cannot shake off”(Carter 177). In comparing these two descriptions though, one is spoken in present tense while the other is in past tense. This in itself makes the reader question the true narrator with skepticism about the potential narrators state of mind. In addition,Carter develops the portrayal of Lizzie over time, and throughout strengthens her argument that she was in fact unstable. One can pick up on this when Carter describes Lizzie after the burglary in an unsure state. “She did not know [where she was]. She could not remember [what had just happened or how it had happened]” (Carter 181). Another example of this is found on page 189 of Carter’s story when she describes Lizzie as “not herself today” after she looks at herself in the mirror and “sees herself as though she were another person.” These descriptions are not one would normally find and therefore further establish Lizzie’s multiple personalities as well as the implication of Lizzie narrating her tale. Another interesting aspect of the story was how familiar the narrator was with Lizzie and her family. For example, when describing the relationship between Lizzie and her father or the relationship of Lizzie’s mother and her father the detail that the description beheld was one of a very personal and intimate level. The narrator knew certain details that only someone would know who lived in the household, thus narrowing down the possible people to members of the family excluding the two deceased.
In response to Yesenia, we seem to have the same view on the narrator. Given all the details of the story and Lizzie’s personalities it seems obvious that the narrator is her, in a different state of mind reflecting or that of one of her multiple personalities. Additionally, Carter’s use of not blatantly stating the narrator strengthens the mysterious aspect of the axe murder. It seems very necessary to the story and ultimately invites the reader to participate in the journey of the trial as well as the life beforehand.
Although a few could be argued, based on the discussion in class, I've been convinced that Lizzie, herself, is the narrator of this short story “The Fall River Axe Murders,” by Angela Carter. As Carter proves, Lizzie has multiple personalities and at times talks to herself in third person. When she looks at herself in the mirror with her "clairvoyant eyes," and says to herself, "Lizzie is not herself, today" the reader is shown Lizzie's multiple personalities (189). If Lizzie talks to herself in third person, she could easily write a whole story about herself in third person. Who else would be able to describe in detail what Lizzie feels and sees? Who would be able to explain her hallucinations? Who would know that "she sleeps badly, and this last stifling night has been troubled, too, by vague nausea and the gripes of her female pain?" (185) The details that are seen in this story can only be discussed by someone who is inside the house, and inside the deranged mind of Lizzie Borden.
The narrator in the short story The Fall River Axe Murders by Angela Carter is never explicitly stated, but she does give several clues throughout the short story to show that Bridget is the one who is telling the story. Bridget is the Irish servant of the Borden household. She is the only individual who would know all the details about each character in the story. Since she lives in the household, she knows every detail about each person and what each one of them does on a daily basis. She knows that the doors are always locked in the Borden household and she knew every aspect of what happened with the burglary (Carter 181). Who else would know those details? She is able to paint a picture of each character because she is an outsider looking in at the Borden household. She was in the house at the time the crime occurred and therefore she would be able to describe the details of the murder. However, as I kept reading I began to think many individuals could be the narrator, was Bridget really the one telling the story? Other evidence I conjured up pointed to other individuals, and I thought that maybe it could be Lizzie’s alter personality telling the story. The more I read into the story the more evidence I found that proved that Bridget was not the actual narrator, but that Lizzie’s other personality was the storyteller. Who else would be able to know Lizzie’s inner struggles?
I do agree with Yesenia that the use of these tenses could mean that the alter personality is the narrator of the short story. When Lizzie looks in the mirror she sees another person, and as a result she tries to change who she sees in the reflection. This alter personality is Lizzzie’s insaneness and when Lizzie switches to this alter personality the tense switches. In the end, I believe that the narrator could be numerous individuals because Carter never explicitly states who it is, and therefore to prove who the narrator is, as readers, we need to look for specific details in the text to prove our assumption is right.
After reading “The Fall River Axe Murders,” by Angela Carter for the first time I did not realize that the narrator could be anyone other than Carter since the viewpoint given is one only an omniscient writer would know. On the second time through it's apparent that the narrator isn't omniscient but merely knows more about Lizzie Borden than anyone else but Lizie could. The lapses in tenses and switching in and out of character also belies Lizzie's mental state and how crazy she really is. The details the narrator provides are so life like they almost seem to be autobiographical. Only an actual person could expand upon what Lizzie thought in such deep description and so accurately. Carter lets the reader draw his or her own conclusion as to who the narrator is, but based on all the evidence and just the fact that it adds to the story so well I would definitely say the narrator is Lizzie. Plus it just makes the story flat out creepy in a good way.
When I first read Angela Carter's short story about Lizzie Borden murdering her parents I thought the narrator was simply Carter using third person omniscient. After our discussion in class and reading the story again, it's obvious that the narrator is actually Lizzie. The idea that Lizzie has a split personality and often experiences "those times when the mind misses a beat" (185). Lizzie is not trying to deny the fact that she is the culprit. In the third paragraph of the story, the direct claim is "Lizzie Borden will murder her parents" (177). Throughout the story the narrator explains in great detail the layout of the house and hints at things that only Lizzie would know. She explains to the reader who is in the house and to leave out two of the characters who are "irrelevant" (178). When the narrator is explaining how the robbery occurred it makes sense that Lizzie was responsible. A sledgehammer was necessary to break the safe but the robber only used a pail of nail clippers. Lizzie who is said in the previous paragraph on the bottom of page 180 is said to have a good amount of free time and is the only one who has access to her father's bedroom. Carter does a good job of supporting her claim and it just makes sense that Lizzie is the narrator and has a split personality.
In response to Alex, I agree that the questions you bring up about what Lizzie sees and feels is obviously from the point of view from Lizzie. None of the other characters can possibly know what is going on inside the house and know all of the details of the inner workings of the Borden household. Also, Lizzie uses the third person when she looks at herself in the mirror so who is to say she cannot be narrating this entire account from third person.
I think the narrarator is Lizzie... maybe not the Lizzie who loves her father but Lizzie none the less. After Carter establishes that Lizzie is crazy and provides evidence for her claim, I began to wonder who was Carter getting her information from. The vivid details of Lizzie's sleep patterns everyone mentions on the blog would only be known my Lizzie. Not only her sleep patterns, but her thoughts, her interactions with other people, and how she sees herself in the mirror. I also agree with Peter when he says that Carter, the author of the short story, allows her readers to make their own conclusions. This is only poosible because she provides sufficient information to do so. I also agree with Peter that Lizzie being the narrarator of the story adds some creepiness in a good way.
While at first it is not obvious, as Carter continues her short story, there are indications that it is in the first person, which would indicate that the narrator is somebody living in the house, and possibly Lizzie Borden. The details that the narrator uses makes it seem as though he or she is actually in the Borden house. The narrator would have to infer the majority of the content, and could not actually tell such a detailed story without being there. Where Lizzie has some mental issues, I find it unlikely that she would write about her own quirks so liberally.
I think that while it seems interesting to have Lizzie as the narrator, this is not the case. While Lizzie seems to have multiple personalities, I do not think one of them is telling the story because even if Lizzie was insane, she wouldn't begin the story by saying that she killed her parents. It seems as though the character John Morse, who was contextually gouged from the story by the narrator, is the narrator. I also believe that he is the murderer of Lizzie's parents, because I cannot see why else he would be omitted from the story in such a strange way.
Originally when I read “The Fall River Axe Murders” story by Angela Carter, the narration seemed to clearly be third person omniscient. The narrator really did know all and provided details on everything. When I got to the end of the story, I noticed that “JesusMaryandJoseph” was exclaimed by the narrator. I then thought isn’t Lizzie Borden really religious? She is actually a member of Women’s Christian Temperance Union and Christian endeavour. I followed this hunch that the narration was done by Lizzie Borden, and fished through the text for more clues. In the first paragraph on page 181, the narrator depicts the burglary scene, and so vividly. He/she says the burglar “pocketed Mrs/ Bordens gold watch…and a roll of dollar bills Old Borden kept under clean union suits in the third drawer of the bureau on the left. “ This is really detailed. It becomes apparent that the narrator must be Lizzie, when Angela Carter presents the information about Lizzie’s supposed alter personality. The narrator also makes a point to dehumanize characters who Lizzie kills. Doing this Lizzie will have less guilt about murdering her parents, since to her they are just a “creature” (178) and a “little doughball” (183). The final convincing evidence that it was Lizzie was the narrator was in the last sentence. “The angel of death roosts on the roof-tree” (190). Lizzie had been having hallucinations and now the narrator is pointing one out. Lizzie Borden is the narrator of Angela Carter’s short story.
I am responding to Erica's comment. I do believe that the narrator is never explicitly stated. However, I am not so sure that it is Bridget who is narrating. The narrator clearly knows everything. As a servant girl, Bridget, should know a lot, but not everything. Would it be wise for Mr. Borden to tell her where he keeps his roll of dollar bills that were kept under the clean union suits in the third drawer of the bureau on the left. I just feel that with Lizzie's instability it is more probable. When the Lizzie's personality switches, the tense switches. Erica makes a great point at the end of her blog, when she asks the question who else would be able to know Lizzie's inner struggles so well? Lizzie seems to be the only one
I believe that Carter takes on the role of Lizzie's alter ego, and writes the story from Lizzie's alter ego's personality. This can proven through the language Carter uses, the details she expresses and the ability to recite Lizzie's personal thoughts. After rereading the story several times, there does not seem to be an alternative answer to the question, who is the narrator. I don't believe that the statement "Lizzie will kill her parents today," is a confession, but, instead, a factual statement, that Lizzie's alter ego cannot help but state, if she is giving an accurate description of the day.
The narrator of the story is Lizzie’s alter personality. The story is told primarily in third person, but what is interesting is the tone and syntax used in the writing give clues to the true narrator. The description of Abby throughout the story is filled with such an intense hate that it could only come from someone who truly despised Abby, “She’s always nibbling away at something, at the cud, perhaps…Abby never aspired so high, nor would she ever think to do so”(P. 183)The only character in the story with this level of dislike toward Abby is Lizzie. Lizzie on the other hand cannot be the narrator, because of the description of the burglary. Lizzie was not aware of burglary, “Emma it was who cleared from the sitting-room carpet the flour and treacle Lizzie had heedlessly tracked in from the kitchen on her bare feet in her somnambulate state”(Page 181). Lizzie was not in a sane state of mind when she committed the burglary. The only person capable of depicting the details in their given nature is Lizzie’s alter ego. The most revealing scene in the story about the narrator is on page 184. The narrator is refereeing to Lizzie, “The youngest daughter dreams behind the locked door. Look at the sleeping beauty.” The compassion that Lizzie is described with can only come from her alter ego. On the next page the author writes, “Orphaned at two years old, poor thing”(P. 185). The compassion again shows a deeper level of understanding of Lizzie only capable by her alter ego.
In response to Kate, I completely agree with everything that she said. I initially thought the narrator was Angela Carter telling the story in third person omniscient, but after taking a closer look, it is clear that the only plausible narrator is Lizzie’s alter ego.
15 comments:
The first thing that I noticed when I read this story is that there were some lapses in tense. Some parts of the story were narrated from the third person point of view but other parts seemed like they were more personal and detailed. One example is on page 178 when the narrator says “But nobody here is up and about, yet… This is a present tense and it sounds as if the narrator is actually in the house. There are also many details that only someone on the “inside” would know. One example is the description of the heat on page 177.The description is so vivid and detailed that it seems like the narrator can actually feel it. There are also details that describe how Lizzie sleeps that only someone who was up close and watching her could know. The description of the house is also something that only an insider would know.
I was trying to figure out who could be narrating the story, but then Carter starts to portray Lizzie as mentally unstable. She has a lapse in memory when the house is robbed and wakes up in the middle of her room. This made me very suspicious. Then there was the dark man who “Miss Russell knew was a figment of Lizzie’s imagination.” Lizzie's mental instability makes me believe that she has multiple personality disorder. I looked online and the definition of this condition is: a psychiatric disorder characterized by having at least one "alter" personality that controls behavior. The "alters" are said to occur spontaneously and involuntarily, and function more or less independently of each other.” Now things started to make sense. I think that the narrator is one of Lizzie’s alter personalities. There is sufficient evidence to support that she does indeed have another personality. The biggest clue to support this idea is on page 189: “There is a mirror on the dresser in which she sometimes looks at those times when time snaps in two and then she sees herself with blind, clairvoyant eyes, as though she were another person. Lizzie is not herself today.” There is further evidence on pg 185: “She endured occasional peculiar spells, odd lapses of behavior, unexpected involuntary trances and moments of disconnection.” I think that it makes sense that the alter personality is the narrator because some parts of the story are told from the 3rd person point of view yet other parts are more up close and personal from almost a first person account.
Throughout Angela Carter’s short story “The Fall River Axe Murders” she never directly establishes a narrator that the audience is made aware of. From this it is up to the reader to decide a valid narrator through the detection of Carter’s implicit clues. In my opinion,Carter utilizes numerous situations to make the reader aware of the true narrator. From the beginning one is made aware that the narrator was there for the occurrences of all events. In particular when describing the burglary and how “the intruder knocked the clutter of this and that on the dresser floor,”(Carter 181) or how on the morning of the murder “the weather clings like a low fever you cannot shake off”(Carter 177). In comparing these two descriptions though, one is spoken in present tense while the other is in past tense. This in itself makes the reader question the true narrator with skepticism about the potential narrators state of mind. In addition,Carter develops the portrayal of Lizzie over time, and throughout strengthens her argument that she was in fact unstable. One can pick up on this when Carter describes Lizzie after the burglary in an unsure state. “She did not know [where she was]. She could not remember [what had just happened or how it had happened]” (Carter 181). Another example of this is found on page 189 of Carter’s story when she describes Lizzie as “not herself today” after she looks at herself in the mirror and “sees herself as though she were another person.” These descriptions are not one would normally find and therefore further establish Lizzie’s multiple personalities as well as the implication of Lizzie narrating her tale. Another interesting aspect of the story was how familiar the narrator was with Lizzie and her family. For example, when describing the relationship between Lizzie and her father or the relationship of Lizzie’s mother and her father the detail that the description beheld was one of a very personal and intimate level. The narrator knew certain details that only someone would know who lived in the household, thus narrowing down the possible people to members of the family excluding the two deceased.
In response to Yesenia, we seem to have the same view on the narrator. Given all the details of the story and Lizzie’s personalities it seems obvious that the narrator is her, in a
different state of mind reflecting or that of one of her multiple
personalities. Additionally, Carter’s use of not blatantly stating the narrator strengthens the mysterious aspect of the axe murder. It seems very necessary to the story and ultimately invites the reader to participate in the journey of the trial as well as the life beforehand.
Although a few could be argued, based on the discussion in class, I've been convinced that Lizzie, herself, is the narrator of this short story “The Fall River Axe Murders,” by Angela Carter. As Carter proves, Lizzie has multiple personalities and at times talks to herself in third person. When she looks at herself in the mirror with her "clairvoyant eyes," and says to herself, "Lizzie is not herself, today" the reader is shown Lizzie's multiple personalities (189). If Lizzie talks to herself in third person, she could easily write a whole story about herself in third person. Who else would be able to describe in detail what Lizzie feels and sees? Who would be able to explain her hallucinations? Who would know that "she sleeps badly, and this last stifling night has been troubled, too, by vague nausea and the gripes of her female pain?" (185) The details that are seen in this story can only be discussed by someone who is inside the house, and inside the deranged mind of Lizzie Borden.
The narrator in the short story The Fall River Axe Murders by Angela Carter is never explicitly stated, but she does give several clues throughout the short story to show that Bridget is the one who is telling the story. Bridget is the Irish servant of the Borden household. She is the only individual who would know all the details about each character in the story. Since she lives in the household, she knows every detail about each person and what each one of them does on a daily basis. She knows that the doors are always locked in the Borden household and she knew every aspect of what happened with the burglary (Carter 181). Who else would know those details? She is able to paint a picture of each character because she is an outsider looking in at the Borden household. She was in the house at the time the crime occurred and therefore she would be able to describe the details of the murder. However, as I kept reading I began to think many individuals could be the narrator, was Bridget really the one telling the story? Other evidence I conjured up pointed to other individuals, and I thought that maybe it could be Lizzie’s alter personality telling the story. The more I read into the story the more evidence I found that proved that Bridget was not the actual narrator, but that Lizzie’s other personality was the storyteller. Who else would be able to know Lizzie’s inner struggles?
Erica Ellermeyer
I do agree with Yesenia that the use of these tenses could mean that the alter personality is the narrator of the short story. When Lizzie looks in the mirror she sees another person, and as a result she tries to change who she sees in the reflection. This alter personality is Lizzzie’s insaneness and when Lizzie switches to this alter personality the tense switches. In the end, I believe that the narrator could be numerous individuals because Carter never explicitly states who it is, and therefore to prove who the narrator is, as readers, we need to look for specific details in the text to prove our assumption is right.
Erica Ellermeyer
After reading “The Fall River Axe Murders,” by Angela Carter for the first time I did not realize that the narrator could be anyone other than Carter since the viewpoint given is one only an omniscient writer would know. On the second time through it's apparent that the narrator isn't omniscient but merely knows more about Lizzie Borden than anyone else but Lizie could. The lapses in tenses and switching in and out of character also belies Lizzie's mental state and how crazy she really is. The details the narrator provides are so life like they almost seem to be autobiographical. Only an actual person could expand upon what Lizzie thought in such deep description and so accurately. Carter lets the reader draw his or her own conclusion as to who the narrator is, but based on all the evidence and just the fact that it adds to the story so well I would definitely say the narrator is Lizzie. Plus it just makes the story flat out creepy in a good way.
When I first read Angela Carter's short story about Lizzie Borden murdering her parents I thought the narrator was simply Carter using third person omniscient. After our discussion in class and reading the story again, it's obvious that the narrator is actually Lizzie. The idea that Lizzie has a split personality and often experiences "those times when the mind misses a beat" (185). Lizzie is not trying to deny the fact that she is the culprit. In the third paragraph of the story, the direct claim is "Lizzie Borden will murder her parents" (177). Throughout the story the narrator explains in great detail the layout of the house and hints at things that only Lizzie would know. She explains to the reader who is in the house and to leave out two of the characters who are "irrelevant" (178). When the narrator is explaining how the robbery occurred it makes sense that Lizzie was responsible. A sledgehammer was necessary to break the safe but the robber only used a pail of nail clippers. Lizzie who is said in the previous paragraph on the bottom of page 180 is said to have a good amount of free time and is the only one who has access to her father's bedroom. Carter does a good job of supporting her claim and it just makes sense that Lizzie is the narrator and has a split personality.
In response to Alex, I agree that the questions you bring up about what Lizzie sees and feels is obviously from the point of view from Lizzie. None of the other characters can possibly know what is going on inside the house and know all of the details of the inner workings of the Borden household. Also, Lizzie uses the third person when she looks at herself in the mirror so who is to say she cannot be narrating this entire account from third person.
I think the narrarator is Lizzie... maybe not the Lizzie who loves her father but Lizzie none the less. After Carter establishes that Lizzie is crazy and provides evidence for her claim, I began to wonder who was Carter getting her information from. The vivid details of Lizzie's sleep patterns everyone mentions on the blog would only be known my Lizzie. Not only her sleep patterns, but her thoughts, her interactions with other people, and how she sees herself in the mirror.
I also agree with Peter when he says that Carter, the author of the short story, allows her readers to make their own conclusions. This is only poosible because she provides sufficient information to do so. I also agree with Peter that Lizzie being the narrarator of the story adds some creepiness in a good way.
Amadi
While at first it is not obvious, as Carter continues her short story, there are indications that it is in the first person, which would indicate that the narrator is somebody living in the house, and possibly Lizzie Borden. The details that the narrator uses makes it seem as though he or she is actually in the Borden house. The narrator would have to infer the majority of the content, and could not actually tell such a detailed story without being there. Where Lizzie has some mental issues, I find it unlikely that she would write about her own quirks so liberally.
I think that while it seems interesting to have Lizzie as the narrator, this is not the case. While Lizzie seems to have multiple personalities, I do not think one of them is telling the story because even if Lizzie was insane, she wouldn't begin the story by saying that she killed her parents. It seems as though the character John Morse, who was contextually gouged from the story by the narrator, is the narrator. I also believe that he is the murderer of Lizzie's parents, because I cannot see why else he would be omitted from the story in such a strange way.
Originally when I read “The Fall River Axe Murders” story by Angela Carter, the narration seemed to clearly be third person omniscient. The narrator really did know all and provided details on everything. When I got to the end of the story, I noticed that “JesusMaryandJoseph” was exclaimed by the narrator. I then thought isn’t Lizzie Borden really religious? She is actually a member of Women’s Christian Temperance Union and Christian endeavour. I followed this hunch that the narration was done by Lizzie Borden, and fished through the text for more clues.
In the first paragraph on page 181, the narrator depicts the burglary scene, and so vividly. He/she says the burglar “pocketed Mrs/ Bordens gold watch…and a roll of dollar bills Old Borden kept under clean union suits in the third drawer of the bureau on the left. “ This is really detailed. It becomes apparent that the narrator must be Lizzie, when Angela Carter presents the information about Lizzie’s supposed alter personality. The narrator also makes a point to dehumanize characters who Lizzie kills. Doing this Lizzie will have less guilt about murdering her parents, since to her they are just a “creature” (178) and a “little doughball” (183). The final convincing evidence that it was Lizzie was the narrator was in the last sentence. “The angel of death roosts on the roof-tree” (190). Lizzie had been having hallucinations and now the narrator is pointing one out. Lizzie Borden is the narrator of Angela Carter’s short story.
I am responding to Erica's comment. I do believe that the narrator is never explicitly stated. However, I am not so sure that it is Bridget who is narrating. The narrator clearly knows everything. As a servant girl, Bridget, should know a lot, but not everything. Would it be wise for Mr. Borden to tell her where he keeps his roll of dollar bills that were kept under the clean union suits in the third drawer of the bureau on the left. I just feel that with Lizzie's instability it is more probable. When the Lizzie's personality switches, the tense switches. Erica makes a great point at the end of her blog, when she asks the question who else would be able to know Lizzie's inner struggles so well? Lizzie seems to be the only one
I believe that Carter takes on the role of Lizzie's alter ego, and writes the story from Lizzie's alter ego's personality. This can proven through the language Carter uses, the details she expresses and the ability to recite Lizzie's personal thoughts. After rereading the story several times, there does not seem to be an alternative answer to the question, who is the narrator. I don't believe that the statement "Lizzie will kill her parents today," is a confession, but, instead, a factual statement, that Lizzie's alter ego cannot help but state, if she is giving an accurate description of the day.
The narrator of the story is Lizzie’s alter personality. The story is told
primarily in third person, but what is interesting is the tone and syntax
used in the writing give clues to the true narrator. The description of
Abby throughout the story is filled with such an intense hate that it
could only come from someone who truly despised Abby, “She’s always
nibbling away at something, at the cud, perhaps…Abby never aspired so
high, nor would she ever think to do so”(P. 183)The only character in the
story with this level of dislike toward Abby is Lizzie. Lizzie on the
other hand cannot be the narrator, because of the description of the
burglary. Lizzie was not aware of burglary, “Emma it was who cleared from
the sitting-room carpet the flour and treacle Lizzie had heedlessly
tracked in from the kitchen on her bare feet in her somnambulate
state”(Page 181). Lizzie was not in a sane state of mind when she
committed the burglary. The only person capable of depicting the details
in their given nature is Lizzie’s alter ego. The most revealing scene in
the story about the narrator is on page 184. The narrator is refereeing to
Lizzie, “The youngest daughter dreams behind the locked door. Look at the
sleeping beauty.” The compassion that Lizzie is described with can only
come from her alter ego. On the next page the author writes, “Orphaned at
two years old, poor thing”(P. 185). The compassion again shows a deeper
level of understanding of Lizzie only capable by her alter ego.
In response to Kate, I completely agree with everything that she said. I
initially thought the narrator was Angela Carter telling the story in
third person omniscient, but after taking a closer look, it is clear that
the only plausible narrator is Lizzie’s alter ego.
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