IF ON A WINTER'S NIGHT A TRAVELER

If on A Winter's Night a Traveler

If on A Winter's Night a Traveler

Critique

“If on a winter's Night a Traveller” is the story the reader continues with after reading the first chapter that tries to control his mind. The author begins with a careful description of the atmosphere of the story for instance describing the odor of the station after the trains have passed. Also his description is clearly shown when he says “It is a rainy evening, the man enters the bar; he unbuttons his damp overcoat; a cloud of steam enfolds him; a whistle dies away along tracks that are glistening with rain, as far as the eye can see.” While reading the story, the author introduces the character “I” that is a universal symbol where all people can relate to. He did not use any name for him other than I to keep him common and don't let his name define him. This man is called “I” and nothing else is known about him leaving many questions about him unanswered, letting every reader use his imagination to answer these questions .Moreover, the reader reaches a point where he is not sure which of the characters is talking at the moment having the author alternate between first, second and third point of view, having the author and the man named “I” and the reader involved in the story.

This book is undoubtedly classified under the category of postmodern literature. The first story “If on a winter's Night a Traveller” resembles an example of post modernity where the author tries to communicate and catch the attention of the reader thus making the reader in control. Many elements in this story show that this novel is postmodern. One of the elements is shown when the author creates a constant alteration and shift from the first, second, and third point of view. At first he starts talking in the third point of view then shifts to the second point of view and then to the first point of view letting the reader reach a point where he gets lost.

Moreover, another element is the foregrounding of the ontological, which is shown as the reader is continuously reminded that he is reading a fictional novel that makes it consequently readerly. In addition, the weird structure that “If on a winter's night a Traveller” has is a postmodernist element ...