Narrator and point of view
The short story “Don’t You Hate Having Two Heads?” by Christine Poulson is rendered in the third person by a narrator who functions as an outside observer of the characters. Although the narrator does not get involved in the events, it is clear that he confines himself to Richard’s point of view. At times, free indirect speech is employed with the purpose of making readers aware of what Richard thinks and feels:
She had gone and he had missed his chance. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Why hadn’t he made a move earlier? It was a bloody nuisance just when he had psyched himself up to it. He had had so little practice, that was the trouble. He would have to mark this down to experience and start all over again. (p. 12, ll. 36-41)
Until the last part of the story, the narrator seems to have limited knowledge regarding Richard’s true intentions. He deliberately omits details regarding the motives behind the character’s actions, although, in the end, he reveals ...