The narrator

The main character in the short story “Trio for Four Voices” by Jane McLaughlin is also the narrator. The narrator’s outer characterization is missing entirely. Since Amelia gives the narrator pink flowers at the end (a stereotypical gift to give a woman), we will assume that the narrator is a woman and refer to the narrator as she/her. The narrator is traveling through Spain, heading to Arcos to meet her friend (l.  28), but we know that she is not Spanish as her Spanish is not “good enough” (l. 129). She is probably from an English-speaking country, as she is aware of different particularities of the English language.

The narrator’s inner characterization is revealed through her thoughts, her words, and her gestures.

The narrator appears interested in Amelia and her family from the start. She remarks on the way Amelia and...