Posted by Andrew Craig-Bennett on December 03, 2001 at 11:26:51 from 195.93.33.153:
This may not be a very original thought, or a correct one, but it seems to me that one of AR's carefully studied effects is the change in "perspective" in almost every novel. We are shown things from the viewpoint of different characters, giving a sort of changing perspective. I am not suggesting that each novel is observed by one character, but I do think the reader tends to sit on the shoulder, so to speak, of one character more than others.
"Swallows and Amazons" is, I think, pretty much seen from Roger's viewpoint, although we do shift around and we are with Titty, Susan and John at various points. Nancy is more of a plot driver than an observer of the plot, as indeed she is throughout.
"Swallowdale" is largely seen through Titty's eyes.
In "Peter Duck" we start by seeing the characters through Peter Duck's eyes, but for most of the time we are seeing things through Bill's eyes - the first use of an outsider to observe our characters.
"Winter Holiday" is particularly sucessful. The idea of seeing characters that we already know, through the eyes of characters that we don't know, tried out in "Peter Duck" is more effective here, and the book is, pretty consistently, seen through Dorothea's eyes.
"Coot Club" is again seen from the Ds' viewpoint.
"Pigeon Post" is more complex, I tend to see it from Dick's and Titty's points of view, but maybe others don't?
"We Didn't Mean to Go To Sea" is seen through John's eyes
"Secret Water" has another change of perspective - Bridget!
"The Big Six", very effectively, is seen from the viewpoint of the Death and Glories.
"Missee Lee" I am unsure about, but I think it is Roger's book.
"The Picts and the Martyrs" is seen mainly through Dorothea's eyes, but for the first and last time we are also sitting on Nancy's and Peggy's shoulders, so to speak.
"Great Northern" is seen through Dick's eyes.
The use of the D's to observe what the Swallows and Amazons do is very original and effective, I think, and the shift to the Death and Glories's point of view, where for the first time we are looking at the D's from outside, is another tour de force.
Does anyone else feel this?