Tyler the subjective narrator

In literary analysis, studying the text itself is essential, but it is also interesting to look at who tells it. Before the story begins, the narrator of Cereus Blooms at Night warns the reader about the content of the novel. First of all, he introduces himself – “I, Tyler” or “Nurse Tyler” (Mootoo 4) – and states himself as the witness of events that he has decided to relate. The fact that Tyler is “placing trust in the power of the printed word to reach many people” (4) goes beyond the fact that the novel may be a way to find Asha (Mala Ramchandin’s sister). Indeed, the novel, through the various themes that it tackles – such as gender and identity, territory and history, social class and race – reaches everybody.

However, this passage presents a paradox. Indeed, Tyler writes that he intends “to refrain from inserting [him]self too forcefully” (4), and yet, the reader has access to the whole story only through his account. The idea of a narrator relating other people’s stories questions the veracity of the facts reported: throughout the novel, Tyler employs different points of views, which contribute to the shaping of Mala’s story. Therefore, by speaking in the names of other characters and writing only about the knowledge he has access to, obviously leaving “lapses” (4), one may wonder about what the narrator chooses to tell and not tell. Everything is told subjectively. It may be the reason why the novel focuses on such queer themes: because Tyler does not fit into society, maybe does he shape involuntarily Mala’s story according to his queer being.