Point Of View In Tom Merritt And Elmer Karr

The point of view is the perspective in which a story is expressed. In literature first person point of view is communicated by using the pronouns “I” and “We”. Are there any benefits of first person narration? The use of first person point of view gives the reader a chance to feel what the poet is saying. One may understand the strengths of first person narration after reading the following poems: “Tom Merritt”, “Mrs. Merritt”, and “Elmer Karr” by Edgar Lee Masters. “Tom Merritt” describes an encounter that Tom has with his wife’s lover. Before the encounter, he had reservations about his wife by saying, “At first I suspected something-” His wife was not acting her normal self, “She acted so calm and absent- minded.” Because of her actions
Merritt.” Mrs. Merritt is speechless, “What could I say to people who thought/ That a woman of thirty-five was at fault.” The people she is referring to is the jury. Her intuition tells her that something bad may happen. She makes an attempt to convince her lover, “Go away, Elmer, go far away,” She realizes that her affair is the reason why her husband dies. “And just as I feared, he killed my husband;” Instead of taking her request into consideration, Elmer kills Tom. In return, she receives a prison sentence, “Silent for thirty years in prison!” While paying her debt to society, “Carried me out in a coffin.” She spent her last days of living in prison. “Elmer Karr” is the lover of Mrs. Merritt. He feels a sense of relief from the people of his town, “And made forgiving the people of Spoon River/Toward me who wronged the bed of Thomas Merritt.” His community decides to excuse him for committing adultery. After serving his time in prison, he attends church, “And heard with tears my penitent confession,” A penitent confession refers to him confessing his sins in front of a priest. “Repent, ye living ones and rest with Jesus.” He finds satisfaction in life after finding