Shifting Perspectives in “The Finite Canvas”

            I want to take a moment to examine the impact the structure of “The Finite Canvas” has on the story itself. Segments of the story are told from Molly’s perspective in a third person voice while still giving us her thoughts on what is happening in the narrative. Much of Jada’s story, however, is told through a framed narrative of sorts with Jada narrating in a deeply personal, confessional tone. Combined, these two parts let us see the whole of Jada’s story: how and why she came to Molly’s clinic and ultimately her death.

            The two different styles offer different opportunities to connect or understand the principle characters. Who did you sympathize with or understand more, Molly or Jada? Furthermore, could this story have been told as effectively with a different narrative structure?

            Personally I sympathized more with Jada even though I understood Molly’s decision. I believe this stemmed more from the depth and personal nature of the information we get about Jada.  Molly needed the money for gene therapy to cure her breast cancer and after reading the story multiple times I started to pick up on the fatalistic hints Jada seemed to be dropping. Despite all this I still liked Jada’s character significantly more than Molly’s; although the ending is beautifully poetic. The protagonist dies yet it could be called a happy ending.

            Could the story have been pulled off with a different structure? It would be interesting to experiment with but I ultimately have to scold myself for asking hypothetical questions about a story I would not be inclined to change.