Narrative technique

Michael is both the main character and the first-person narrator in the short story “Sea Defences” by Hilary Taylor 

The narrator is unreliable because of mental illness. He has a naïve way of looking at the world around him and little understanding of social norms. For example, he does not fully understand why his behavior in public is suspicious and why people call the police when they see him around their children: “Why is she talking about my job again? What’s their problem with it?” (ll. 25-26). The narrator does not seem to understand why his presence around children is inappropriate and is confused that people do not seem to appreciate what he does: “There have only been two times in twenty-nine years that anyone has said thank you” (l. 34). The narrator is also unaware of the possible negative consequences of bringing Hannah past the sea defences and of hiding her shoe after her...