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Midwife's Apprentice: Point of View
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From: Kathleen Horning <horning>
Date: Wed, 08 Nov 1995 10:50:00 -600
Last week Marge Loch-Wouters made some insightful comments regarding Beetle/Alyce's point of view in "The Midwife's Apprentice." I would like to add a few observations to the discussion because I think that point of view is one of the books' great strengths. I also think that the strong point of view is what leads some readers to find that the book is "one-dimensional," a point we discussed last week.
Initially, Beetle's point of view is necessarily narrow. As a street child, living by her wits, her entire world revolves around a need for food and warmth. She judges everything and everyone in terms of how they will help or hinder her search for these two necessities. She does not have the luxury of being able to reflect on her circumstances -- remember, she doesn't even know her name and doesn't have time to be bothered by that. A name is not essential to her survival.
Once she is taken in by Jane Sharp, her basic needs are met, and, although she must work hard for the midwife, she is freed from having to think about her survival every waking moment. For the first time, she has leisure to observe both the natural and social world. Since this is all new to her, she initially takes everything at face value.
Gradually she begins to interact with this world and question her place within it. The scene where she goes to the St. Swithin's Day Fair, as I recall, represents an especially strong turning point in her life, when a chance encounter with a stranger who mistakes her for someone named Alyce leads her to wonder who, exactly, she is -and who she might become. From this moment on, Beetle a.k.a. Alyce begins a search for identity.
Her point of view expands throughout the novel, as her character is continually unfolding or, in keeping with the imagery used throughout the novel, she assists in her own rebirth. I keep meaning to go back and check this but haven't yet, so I was wondering if anyone else has already noticed: does the novel take place over nine months time?
KT Horning, CCBC
UW-Madison
Received on Wed 08 Nov 1995 10:50:00 AM CST
Date: Wed, 08 Nov 1995 10:50:00 -600
Last week Marge Loch-Wouters made some insightful comments regarding Beetle/Alyce's point of view in "The Midwife's Apprentice." I would like to add a few observations to the discussion because I think that point of view is one of the books' great strengths. I also think that the strong point of view is what leads some readers to find that the book is "one-dimensional," a point we discussed last week.
Initially, Beetle's point of view is necessarily narrow. As a street child, living by her wits, her entire world revolves around a need for food and warmth. She judges everything and everyone in terms of how they will help or hinder her search for these two necessities. She does not have the luxury of being able to reflect on her circumstances -- remember, she doesn't even know her name and doesn't have time to be bothered by that. A name is not essential to her survival.
Once she is taken in by Jane Sharp, her basic needs are met, and, although she must work hard for the midwife, she is freed from having to think about her survival every waking moment. For the first time, she has leisure to observe both the natural and social world. Since this is all new to her, she initially takes everything at face value.
Gradually she begins to interact with this world and question her place within it. The scene where she goes to the St. Swithin's Day Fair, as I recall, represents an especially strong turning point in her life, when a chance encounter with a stranger who mistakes her for someone named Alyce leads her to wonder who, exactly, she is -and who she might become. From this moment on, Beetle a.k.a. Alyce begins a search for identity.
Her point of view expands throughout the novel, as her character is continually unfolding or, in keeping with the imagery used throughout the novel, she assists in her own rebirth. I keep meaning to go back and check this but haven't yet, so I was wondering if anyone else has already noticed: does the novel take place over nine months time?
KT Horning, CCBC
UW-Madison
Received on Wed 08 Nov 1995 10:50:00 AM CST
