My Lady Jane

My Lady Jane primarily uses a third-person narration, which alternates between a limited perspective following a specific character and an omniscient perspective with access to knowledge beyond the characters’ experiences. This second perspective is often enabled through the literary device of direct address, in which the authors acknowledge their own existence and that of the reader, addressing statements to the reader directly. This address has elements of first- and second-person perspectives, as the authors incorporate their own perspective and the reader’s perspective alongside their narrative of the characters: For example, “We just wanted to take a break for a minute to tell you something important” (253).

These moments can also be called authorial intrusion, as the authors present their direct address as an interruption to the narrative, functioning like a character by presenting themselves in the first person. The first-person address creates a sense of intimacy, inviting the reader into a relationship with the authorial voice. It also invites the reader to see themselves as a presence in the narrative. The authors use rhetorical devices to position the reader alongside the protagonists, using flattery and building camaraderie: “[I]f you are bucker of the system, a friend of truth, an ally of love, and a believer in magic, then read on” (253).