Narrator and point of view

The short story “Uncle Dougie’s Suitcase” by Alastair Chisholm is told by a first-person narrator who is also one of the main characters.

At the time when the events in the story take place, the narrator, Douglas, is nine years old. However, the story is told by an older version of himself, as suggested by the first sentence: “When I was nine years old my Uncle Dougie caught me looking in his suitcase.” (l. 1) 

Children often have a limited understanding of people and events. The short story mixes the child’s memories with the adult perspective on them. For instance, the narrator knows now that his uncle’s stories are “far-fetched” (l. 30). However, as a child, he completely believes Uncle Dougie’s stories, such as the one about his overcoat be...