The Character of an Inanimate Object

Multiple points-of-view.

This topic can spark quite a discussion among authors. Some prefer showing their story through the eyes of more than one character, while others wish to stick with just one point-of-view (POV).

The multiple POV preference has become more common in recent years. Some novels boast three or four POV’s that tell the fictional tale. I recently conversed with an author who stated she was having a hard time keeping it under five POVs. Either way, multiple POVs can be especially effective in making sure the characters within the story learn their information organically. It can also allow the reader to know things the characters might not know yet.

But what about those authors who choose to use only one POV or have already reached their limit on the number of POV’s they wish to have in a particular work? How can a writer effectively give the reader information the characters don’t have, or have that character obtain information they shouldn’t know?

There are a number of devices that can be used, but one in particular is the use of an inanimate object that inhabits human qualities. This is especially useful for the Fantasy and Sci-Fi realms, since the bigger the imagination, the better! The possibilities can be endless!

A good example of this is ‘Ella Enchanted’ by Gail Carson Levine, a middle grade twist on the classic Cinderella tale. In this story, Ella is given a magical gift (or curse, as she sees it) of obedience. At various points in the story she is literally stuck at home, unable to leave or to even send a message abroad. But obtaining certain information is important for the story to move forward. The solution to this problem is her magical diary. Whenever she wants to learn about another person, she simply picks up the diary and says their name. Instantly she can see letters they’ve written and can learn all sorts of plot details she otherwise would not have known.

This was a simple way to fix a large problem. Ella needed to know details about her father and Prince Char as they traveled to far off countries, but there was no way she could achieve that while stuck under the thumb of her evil step-mother. The information she was able to glean also helped her learn the truth about the magic that held her in bondage and how to break free from it, in the end.

In the Author’s Note of the book, Ms. Levine explains that she used this device because Ella would not have come to know this information in any other believable way. Using a diary would be natural for a pre-teen girl, and since this is a world of magic, the fact that it possesses unusual abilities fit right in with the story. The use of this inanimate object as a character was the perfect solution for the author, since she didn’t wish to add an additional POV.

Have you chosen to use an object as a character in one of your stories? Or is there another way you moved your storyline forward without adding another POV that you can suggest? Feel free to leave any thoughts or comments below!

Bio: Laura L. Zimmerman is a homeschooling mom to three daughters, and a doting wife to one husband. Besides writing, she is passionate about loving Jesus, singing, drinking coffee and anything Star Wars. You can connect with her through Facebook and Twitter and at her website, www.lauralzimmerman.com

Featured image by Upslash/NASA