Literary Device: Unreliable Narrator

This is an unusual device that I’ve implemented into Fallen Through, but nonetheless, I hope that it’s portrayed that by the novel’s conclusion—Della is an unreliable narrator.

We learn rather deep into the novel that Tyler’s poor treatment of her actually began before he started falling into drug addiction. We can chalk it up to him being inexperienced when it comes to being in a relationship, but Tyler has always put himself first, and this is demonstrated when Della reveals to the audience that Tyler stood her up the first day that they were supposed to meet.

So, it becomes clear to us, the reader, that Della has always casted Tyler in a positive light and she proved to leave out critical details that would’ve made us dislike him as a character. She chooses to ignore the bad and focus on the good that he tries to do, and disregards her own feelings—Della essentially sets herself on fire to keep Tyler warm due to her unwavering belief in him despite the odds stacked against them. Everyone tells her to leave him before Tyler takes her down with him, but she never does, and we see her as naïve for this.

Della always excuses Tyler’s behaviour and that makes her an unreliable narrator when it comes to describing his character.