Narrative perspective (Diagnosis)

Edith Wharton was one of the pioneers of a new narrative perspective in the early 20^th century: the personal narrative perspective. The so-called third person limited subjective narration in the case of “Diagnosis” is the voice of the story but it can only portray the thoughts, feelings and anxieties of one person: in this case Paul Dorrance. With this perspective, it could also be possible that Dorrance himself is meant to be the narrator. To explain this, he could be telling his story, in a biography or in a diary for instance. This version of perspective is often used for people with mental disorders or in encumbering situations - which Paul Dorrance’s current life of the short story undeniably is. Eleanor’s inner emotional state stays unheard-of.

The following examples show that the narrator is aware of Paul Dorrances feelings and thoughts:

“Nothing to be in a hurry about, after all,” was his half-conscious thought.[i]

“Ah, the pity of it - pity, pity! That was the feeling that rose to the surface of his thoughts.”[ii]

“She won’t be ‘brave’ now,” he thought with an uncontrollable satisfaction.”[iii]

When feelings, emotions and thought of other people are described, Wharton has used facial expressions, light and darkness to express them as the following statements show:

“She colored a little, hesitating as if he had caught her at fault.”[iv]

“The shadow of her terrible fear seemed to fall from her, as the shadow of living falls from the face of the newly dead.”[v]

“The doctor had followed this outburst with a look of visible perplexity.”[vi]

[i] Wharton, Edith; Robinson, Roxana (2007): The New York stories of Edith Wharton. New York, NY: New York Review Books (New York Review Books classics). p.381 f.

[ii] Ibid. p.384 f.

[iii] Ibid. p. 387.

[iv] Ibid. p. 386.

[v] Ibid. p. 388.

[vi] Ibid. p. 401.