Fourth Person Point of View
Growing up, we have all realised that perspectives don’t just determine how a story will turn out, but they also play a huge role in impacting people. But do you know what really makes a difference in a story other than perspectives? It’s where the viewpoint is coming from. For instance, if I have achieved something, then I would be able to explain that feeling better. However, a fourth person would be able to enumerate a situation involving a group of people more efficiently.
However, who is the fourth person? Most of us are well-versed in the first, second, and third person, but we don’t often talk about the fourth person, right? Well, in this blog, we will! So, scroll down to find out what the fourth-person point of view is.
Comprehending the Role of Fourth Person Point of View
Unlike the first, second, and third person points of view, the fourth person is a rarely used narrative technique; it employs a collective or universal voice to describe events from a perspective beyond the individual’s own. The best part is that it’s not restricted to a single perspective, meaning the fourth person can enumerate things before readers that the respective characters are not allowed to.
Key Characteristics of Fourth Person Point of View
The fourth person in a story plays a crucial role in expounding the story’s context. Let’s take a look at its key characteristics.
Universal Perspective
In the fourth-person point of view, the author uses a narration that represents a shared experience rather than an individual’s perspective. It may use ‘we’ in a sentence, but that’s not restricted to a specific group; instead, it reflects the truth of humanity, a generation, or existence. In the fourth-person point of view, the narrator employs collective experience or universal understanding.
Detached Yet Encompassing
The fourth-person narrative isn’t biased; it neither speaks for any specific character nor is confined to one’s viewpoint. It’s like the angel that sees everything from above and explains, comprehending human emotions, and conveying them as they are.
We don’t know if you have watched Gossip Girl or not, but if you have, you will notice that the narrator never speaks on anyone’s behalf; instead, she analyses every character and updates the audience about each character without any prejudice.
Non-Linear Awareness
No time constraint binds the fourth-person; they freely shift between past, present, and future without any clear separation. This creates a sense that all moments coexist, and the events feel interconnected. It feels that the memory, history, and destiny all operate simultaneously.
Philosophical
The fourth-person narrative forces you to question morals, existence, destiny, and human nature. The narration may sound more reflective than abstract; therefore, rather than focusing on the event alone, it emphasises truth beyond basic ordinary life.
When Should One Use the Fourth Person Point of View?
Using the fourth-person narrative demands precision and skills because overdoing it may bore the reader. But when should one use the fourth person point of view? Let’s find out.
Express a Collective Human Experience
Authors typically use the fourth-person narrative when they write about shared experiences, psychological facts, or human emotions.
Create Philosophical Tone
The philosophical tone works best when the fourth person is narrating it, as it elevates the impact of those words, and it almost sounds like some divine learning or message.
Shift Beyond Character Limitations
As you know, the fourth person isn’t confined to one specific character; therefore, it provides readers with information about all characters, different timelines, and inner thoughts simultaneously.
Creative Freedom
The fourth-person point of view allows authors the creative liberty to switch between timelines and from a character’s perspective to stating any psychological fact, with a voice that feels detached yet connected at the same time.
Advantages of Fourth Person Point of View
- If you wish to write about distinctive generations, mythology, philosophical themes, or anything that is beyond a single character, then you must use the fourth-person point of view.
- We have mentioned this before; unlike first, second, or third-person narrative, the fourth-person narrative isn’t confined to a single character. The fourth person has the free will to talk about multiple characters at once, and that won’t even look out of the blue.
- The fourth person is permitted to reveal truths about the characters that they themselves cannot admit in the story. It can foreshadow events, highlight irony, or expose hidden motives without being tied to one perspective. This layered storytelling creates dramatic tension and intellectual engagement for readers.
- Stories that revolve around mythology or civilization mainly benefit from the fourth-person point of view, as the voice can feel divine or cosmic.
Challenges of Fourth Person Point of View
- As the fourth person speaks for every character, the readers may feel less emotionally connected with them.
- Readers are more familiar with the first, second, and third person. The fourth person speaks for a group of people, so if it’s not written carefully, the readers may get puzzled by each character’s statement.
- Overdoing philosophical or thematic commentary may bore readers, leading them to skip those parts. Therefore, authors must strike a balance between action and background commentary.
- Maintaining a consistent collective voice throughout a long narrative is challenging. Shifts between collective awareness and individual scenes must feel intentional.
Also, Check – 15 Powerful Mood Examples in Literature
On a Parting Note
Writing fourth person point of view demands patience, the ability to create balance, and the skills to ensure that the text of your story is clear and concise. Ensure to maintain a balance between philosophy and action, use a subtle shift across time and perspectives, and anchor the specific voice in specific scenes, so the story flows naturally.
The fourth-person point of view not only shapes the story but also elevates its impact; therefore, ensure to employ the fourth person in your story amicably.
