Narrator and point of view

The short story “Solo Dance” by Jayne Anne Phillips is told from a third-person, limited point of view. Through the third-person narration, readers also gain access to the characters’ perspective, which helps them understand more about the characters and the action.

Generally, the narrator shares the perspective of the main character, reporting the events from her perspective: “He was very thin and the skin on his legs was soft and pure like fine paper” (ll. 3-4). 

The main character’s emotions are not directly revealed, but only hinted at through her actions, observations, and memories, which shows us that the narrator has limited access to the main character’s perspective: “She remembered him saying “I give up” when he was angry or exasperated.” (ll. 4-5); “She sat watching her father. His robe was patterned with tiny horses, sorrels in arabesques.” (ll. 18-19). The use of a limited point of view also helps with the main character’s characterisation as someone who is not aware of her feelings or trying...