The Other Side of the Story

Nick Majeskie

12/7/11

Author’s Note: This is short story is about how different points of view effect how the reader understands the story.

In April Mornings, written by Howard Fast, the plot of the story is the British are coming to the main character’s home town during the Revolutionary War. The town forms a militia to fight off the British soldiers if they come. The messenger comes running down the road yelling the British are coming. The story is written in Adam Cooper’s point of view. From this perspective, a lot of events and characters are described in a way that creates furious and gloomy emotions in the reader’s point of view about the characters and how Adam reacts to everyone.

One way that Adam’s point of view influences the reader's interpretation, is how this perspective shows different ways. One example is when Adam drew the water and sang his song to clean the water. His brother saw this and knew their father doesn’t like it when Adam sings the song, SO the little brother blackmails Adam for a drink of water. Even when he says he won’t tell his father he does. The point of views matter here because for Levi (younger brother) it is a win, win situation. In this situation for Adam his only chance is if he gives Levi a drink and hopes he won’t tell. However, the reader would feel a lot differently about the scene if the novel was written in the point of view of Levi. For instance, the reader wouldn't think that Levi is a little snitch and tell their father. If it was in his perspective, it would make him look smart.

As you can see, the point of view of a story forces the reader to see just one side of an event or topic. In April Mornings the narrator's perspective makes the reader think differently. Everyone has a different point of view, but in this book we are persuaded to interpret the book through the eyes of one character.