The best works of realistic fiction create believable characters and illustrate real-life situations. This is certainly true in We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler. Karen Joy Fowler is able to use unique narrative techniques to allow the reader to fully understand the narrator's feelings. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay We Are All Completely Outside of Ourselves begins in the media and the timeline structure allows the author to simulate the recollection of memory. The story goes through different important parts of his life. The choppy plot structure could also be representative of trauma as she struggles to recite her memories. The way Rosemary remembers her life provides insight into her feelings. A person's most vivid memories often say a lot about their character. Rosemary's life story heavily involves Fern. This means that Fern is an important part of his self-perception. By being exposed to Rosemary's memories, the reader may be able to understand her identity and how she defines herself. Karen Joy Fowler uses anthropomorphism to help the reader recognize how Rosemary feels about Fern. For example, it is not until page seventy-seven that we learn that Fern is a chimpanzee. Until then, Fern is only Rosemary and Lowell's sister and the daughter of two loving parents. This style allows the reader to see Fern through Rosemary's eyes before revealing Fern's true nature. The fern is not a pet for Rosemary. Fern was his “twin,” his “fun mirror,” his “swirly other half.” Not his chimpanzee. Karen Joy a Fowler wanted to clarify Rosemary's feelings for Fern and she did. The diary-style format of the story constantly has the reader wondering how the protagonist moves from one location to another due to the need to fill in plot holes. From the first page, the author asks the reader questions. “So the middle of my story is in the winter of 1996...ten years have passed since I last saw my brother, seventeen years since my sister disappeared.” What happened between her and her siblings? Naturally, the narrator in this case would be biased because she knows the ending before telling the beginning. This makes the narrator somewhat unreliable as she may omit details either by choice or lack of memory. For example, she herself refrains from revealing Fern's true nature. Not only was she a chimpanzee, but she was violent. This violence is what ultimately leads to Fern's exile, which we only learn at the end of the story from her parents. Regardless of this unreliability, readers are compelled to read on to answer their questions. By entering a character, the reader receives detailed information allowing them to evaluate the protagonist's emotions. If this story had been written in the third person, the story would not have been as powerful because it would be difficult to go into detail about the emotions of several characters. The author wanted the reader to empathize with the protagonist by delving deeper into her feelings. Since we live in an “I” world, the first person adds an extra sense of comfort in the reader. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Written by..