The Little Stranger

How Waters and Stoker Use Narrative Point of View in 'The Little Stranger' and 'Dracula' 12th Grade

Both Waters and Stoker use narrative point of view to enhance their novels. This is achieved by the use of striking openings, the inevitable elements of unreliable narration in both novels, and how this links to themes of uncertainty as well as the intended audience. Both authors also incorporate dreams into their narrative, which frequently reflect the relevant crippling social anxieties the narrators are experiencing. Finally, both novels have poignant endings, clearly encapsulating the way in which the writers use narrative point of view throughout their respective novels. The openings of both 'The Little Stranger' and 'Dracula', effectively set up the novels and the way in which narrative perspective is used.

Water's unnerving opening, depicting faraday as a young child visiting Hundreds Hall, vividly presents Faraday's acute social anxieties, even from such a young age. This is further reinforced by the presentation of Faraday's presence being a direct result of his mother working there, with the clear social divide within the house evident to Faraday even as a young boy, he describes 'I might peep past the green baize curtain that separated the front of the house from the back.' This conveys the metaphorical, as well as...

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