Narrator and point of view

The short story “Braces” by Nick Werber is narrated from a first-person, limited point of view by Nick, the main character. Through the first-person narration, readers gain access to Nick’s inner thoughts, which helps them understand more about the character, his circumstances and experiences.

The narrator’s limited point of view is illustrated through the fact that he conveys his feelings and thoughts, but he does not have direct access to what the other characters are feeling or thinking.

However, Nick is an observant narrator and sometimes offers insights into the other characters’ thoughts and feelings, contributing particularly to the characterisation of Nick’s father and grandfather. For example, the narrator states: “Dad grins at me across the table, signifying he has got one up on ‘the old man’ as he calls him.” (ll. 45-46). This suggests that Nick’s father enjoys teasing his own f...