Narrator and point of view

The novel Normal People by Sally Rooney is told from the point of view of a third-person narrator. The narrator is limited to accessing only one character’s internal thoughts and feelings, focusing on Connell or Marianne in alternating chapters. 

The switch between Marianne’s point of view to Connell’s from chapter to chapter helps present their relationship from both sides and offers a rounded view of the conflicts between them. Moreover, the dual point of view helps to offer a complex characterization of both main characters, as readers have access to both their internal words. In turn, this enables readers to understand both Marianne and Connell and have a chance to empathize with them. 

For example, Marianne’s point of view often shows the ab...