The Technique of the First-Person Point of View of the Side Character in Writing Stories

Sidekick First Person (freepik AI generator)

YOGYAKARTA - In fiction writing, point of view plays an important role. One of them is the first-person point of view of a side actor who is able to give a unique perspective on the plot and the main character.

This technique makes readers see the story through the eyes of unique characters who are not the center of attention. That way, the story will have a plot that feels fresh, the mystery is maintained, and the reader's emotions are easier to build.

Understanding the First Person Perspective in Stories

First person point of view is one of the most commonly used narrative techniques. This technique gives closeness and a direct impression on the story, as if the narrator is telling the story directly to the reader.

Quoted from the Literature & Latte website, the use of pronouns 'I', 'I', or 'we' makes readers feel the thoughts, emotions, and experiences of the characters personally. In addition, this technique is also very effective for stories that emphasize character development.

Nevertheless, the first-person point of view has its limitations, namely the reader only knows what the narrator knows, and only experiences what he experiences. This makes the perspective of other characters completely closed.

On the other hand, this point of view is very effective in certain genres, such as mystery stories, especially "hard-boiled mysteries", to increase tension while highlighting the uniqueness of the investigator.

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It's worth noting that stories that run linearly are often suitable for this technique. The narrator can be the main character, but not always. For example, the entire story of Sherlock Holmes told by his friend, Dr. Watson.

This technique also opens up the opportunity to create an unreliable narrator, as in the novel "Gone Girl" which offers an interesting twist in the first person narrative.

Some other famous works that use this point of view include "The Catcher in the Rye", "Marcel Proust In Search of Lost Time" which reaches 3,000 pages, and Stephen King's "From a Buick 8" which uniquely uses the first-person narration of various characters.

Understanding the First Person Point of View Technique of Side Actors

Among the various points of view in the writing of stories, the first-person point of view of the side actor is one that is rarely used, although this technique has extraordinary narrative power.

Dilansir dari laman Inventing Reality Editing Service, dalam teknik ini, narator berada di dalam cerita tetapi bukan tokoh utama. Narasi umumnya ditandai dengan penggunaan kata ganti 'aku' atau 'saya', dan sering disebut juga sebagai "first-person peripheral".

You can find some famous literary works using this technique, such as Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

The first-person point of view of the side actor is ideal when the writer wants to give a clearer perspective on events that cannot be revealed directly by the main character, hide the contents of a certain character's mind, or display a protagonist that is difficult for the reader to understand. This technique is also effective for stories that require the main character to die at the end of the story.

Even so, this technique is not always appropriate to use. If the main character experiences character development, or the author wants to bring the reader to delve into his innermost thoughts, this point of view can actually reduce emotional closeness.

In addition, the same applies if the story raises a major theme that requires direct experience from the point of view of the protagonist, as in some science fiction or fantasy stories.

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