Narrator and point of view

The short story “The Age of Lead” by Margaret Atwood is a third-person narration, in which the events are conveyed from the perspective of the main character, Jane.

Jane does not know the reason why John Torrington died until it is announced on TV: “The scientists are back on the screen. They are excited, you could almost call them joyful. They know why John Torrington died…” (ll. 197-198). Using the character’s point of view, the narrator makes it easier for readers to empathise with Jane’s feelings and her views on society.

Finally, the narration is explicit, telling readers exactly what happens on TV or what happened with Jane and Vincent. However, the story is more subtle when it comes to its themes. For instance, the passages about...

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