Narrative Voice

Narrative Voice

1. Rertospective

2. Dual perspective

   • Dual perspective emerges at the climatic moments of the narrative. The narrative voice merges observations and emotions from the perspective of the young Amir with adult reflections seeking to rationalise his actions 

3. Fragmentary nature of memory

   • Stream-of consciousness

4. Constantly intrudes on the story on Foreshadowing of events to come

   • Remind us we are being told a story

5. Unreliable Narrator

   • WHY?
     • Own emotional involvement in the story means we cannot always trust what we say
     • Amir (the narrator) retrospective account of the past is framed by his personal feelings of guilt
     • Amir's recall of the past is framed by his personal feelings of guilt

6. Informal, conversational style

7. Amir the narrator is Used as a vehicle by Hosseini to explore the psychological complexity of guilt and jealousy

8. First person narrator

   • Allows us to see directly into the mind of the narrator

9. Fairly consistent throughout the novel-

10. First person plural epistolary

    • Rahim Kahn's voice comes through via direct speech through the letter.
      • Rahim Kahn is briefly the narrator

11. Use of introspection by Hosseini allows the reader to see and crucially feel the inner turmoil of the narrator and protagonist Amir