The best characters are complex ones. Personalities that keep the readers guessing, attitudes that defy the norm and even questionable morals. When such a character narrates a story, the audience immediately feels intrigued. An unreliable narrator is a voice that tells the story in unconventional ways, mostly by misleading the reader. It is an almost personal point of view, and its flaws are highlighted. It can also be a character who is part of a story, or an outsider. Oftentimes, the reader does not know who is the voice when it comes to unreliable narrators. After all, they cannot trust it. These unconventional narrators are presented in a variety of ways. If you are interested in them, keep reading to find out. Naïve: This type of narrator is just as lost as the reader. They are oblivious to essential pieces of the plot. Their perspective does not revolve around what they know, but around what they don’t. They fill the gaps however they find suitable, changing and confusing the truth. Naïve narrators are not aware that they are deceiving the reader.
Liar: Also called “deliberately unreliable”, this type of narrator chooses to lie to the reader. They clash with any sense of accountability with the events or plot, but rather focus on the journey of the character. Their motivation for lying will usually be either mischief or insaneness. They work especially well to capture the reader’s interest. However, creating a connection (whether positive or negative) with the readers will take time.
Selective: Choosing which pieces of information to show for their convenience, this elusive narrator tends to hide information and show half-truths. The motivation of the character must be clear for them to work as a selective narrator. The information they are withholding must have significance for the plot, but it should not go as far as leaving the reader completely in the dark. Note as well that in stories with multiple points of view, each character can be unreliable to a certain level. It is the pieces put together that build the mosaic of a story.
Final Reminder: With unreliable narrators, the reader seems to be in a vaguely lit room. Are they seeing an accurate representation of the events or not? For them to spot unreliable narrators, it is important for writers to include hints of their naïveness or lies during the story. To do this, writers might choose to focus on dialogue and symbolism rather than inner monologue. Remember that despite being intriguing, they must drive the story with effectiveness. Bibliography: Barron, Kaelyn. “The Unreliable Narrator: Definition, Examples, and How to Spot One.” TCK Publishing, 20 July 2021, www.tckpublishing.com/unreliable-narrator. BA, Kate Miller-Wilson. “12 Classic Unreliable Narrator Examples.” YourDictionary, examples.yourdictionary.com/12-classic-unreliable-narrator-examples.html. “What Is an Unreliable Narrator? Definition and 6 Real Examples.” Reedsy, blog.reedsy.com/unreliable-narrator. Paula Argudois an Ecuadorian writer who weaves culture and magic into her stories. Her work has been featured in literary magazines such as SeaGlass Literary and Ice Lolly Review, and she was an international finalist in the Metamorphosis contest. When not writing, you can find her dancing, baking, or daydreaming.
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