It’s week two of April’s theme on Fully-Booked, and in today’s literary podcast episode, we’re diving deep into the world of fools, tricksters, and – our main focus today – unreliable narrators.
Last week, we examined the mythological and folkloric origins of fools and tricksters – how these figures evolved and what they symbolized. This week, we’re exploring how those archetypes translate into literary devices, especially when it comes to unreliable narrators. It’s a natural progression: What happens when the trickster gets to tell the story?
What Makes a Narrator Unreliable?
We started by teasing out a basic premise:
- Not all unreliable narrators are tricksters.
- But every trickster who narrates is, in some form, unreliable.
When a trickster character narrates a story, readers are immediately on guard. Are they bending the truth, lying outright, or withholding key information? Their intent to manipulate the narrative often colors everything they say. This introduces a built-in level of mistrust, pushing readers to question what’s true and what’s fabricated constantly.
Unreliable narrators challenge:
- Reader assumptions
- The line between truth and fiction
- Moral boundaries and societal norms
As readers, we end up reflecting on our own perceptions. Are we missing signs of dishonesty? Were there clues we should have caught earlier? This layered storytelling technique becomes especially potent in modern fiction, where readers enjoy being kept on their toes.
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Arthur posed an interesting question: Do we enjoy being tricked as readers? Meaghan said yes – most of the time. She loves it when a book surprises her in a way she didn’t see coming. With so much content available these days, true surprises are rare and, therefore, even more satisfying.
Meaghan’s recent favorite in this category?
The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward.
- A psychological thriller with multiple points of view.
- Several narrators, each unreliable for different reasons.
- One of the narrators is a cat.
- Made Meaghan’s top 5 list the year she read it.
Types Of Trickster Narrators
Arthur then introduced some types of trickster narrators, each with a corresponding example:
- The Charming Liar:
- The Gospel of Loki by Joanne M. Harris
- Loki narrates Norse myths in a sarcastic, self-serving tone.
- The Trickster “Playing Dumb”:
- Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov
- Charles, the narrator, presents himself as humble but co-opts the text for his own delusional storytelling.
- The Con Artist:
- The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
- Locke recounts smooth, confident cons while hiding important facts.
- The Satirical Joker:
- Lamb by Christopher Moore
- Narrated by Biff, Jesus’ childhood friend, offering a wild and irreverent version of the gospels.
Meaghan also mentioned Moore’s Fool, a retelling of King Lear from the jester’s point of view – full of skewed perception and dark humor.
RelatedThese Mischievous Legends Are Shaping Modern Literature in Surprising Ways
Breaking Down Unreliable Narrator Types
We moved on to categorize unreliable narrators, going beyond trickster stereotypes and into broader literary theory. Meaghan broke it down with literary references and examples:
1. Naive Narrators
Often, children or individuals who don’t grasp the full complexity of events.
- Atonement by Ian McEwan: Told from a 12-year-old’s perspective.
- Room by Emma Donoghue: Told by a 6-year-old boy, Jack.
These narrators are unreliable due to innocence or inexperience.
2. Outsider Narrators
These are characters who observe the story but aren’t involved deeply enough to know all the facts.
- Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë: Nelly, the maid, is both observer and embellisher.
- Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier: The second Mrs. de Winter tries to piece together a past she wasn’t part of.
3. Picaros (Embellishers)
Narrators who intentionally exaggerate or glorify events.
- A classic example is Wuthering Heights again.
- Trickster example: Loki, who retells stories for his own benefit.
4. Mentally Unstable or Addicted Narrators
Characters with distorted perceptions due to mental health or substance abuse.
- Shutter Island
- Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins: The protagonist’s alcoholism clouds her judgment and memory.
5. Outright Liars
Characters who knowingly lie to the reader.
- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn: Amy’s diary entries mislead the reader.
- Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov: Humbert manipulates the reader into sympathizing with him despite his actions.
Sometimes, books combine multiple types – like Lolita, which features both delusion and deception.
RelatedDifferences Between Folklore, Myths, and Legends: Are They One & The Same?
Literary vs. Mystery Narratives
Arthur and Meaghan also discussed the line between unreliable narration and general mystery storytelling. Just because a thriller keeps secrets doesn’t mean its narrator is unreliable.
For example:
- The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden uses shifting POVs and flashbacks but doesn’t rely on unreliable narration.
- It’s simply a mystery where the reader is only given pieces of the puzzle over time.
The distinction matters. If the narrator isn’t lying or misinterpreting events, it doesn’t fall into the unreliable category.
Final Thoughts and What’s Next
We wrapped up with a few key reflections:
- Unreliable narrators are fascinating because they play with perception and challenge the reader’s role in interpreting the story.
- These narratives are especially popular in genres like thrillers, where surprise is a major draw.
- There’s value in understanding why a narrator is unreliable – whether due to innocence, manipulation, delusion, or deception.
Next week, Meaghan and Arthur are planning to explore a specific book-to-film adaptation that features unreliable narration. They’ll dive into whether the adaptation holds up and how the narrative trickery translates to the screen.
