There is something seriously psychologicall wrong with Zoe Hendricks. With the repetitive allusions to "Heidi", it appears that she may suffer from multiple personalit disorder. The point of view from which the story is told helps promote the ideology that Zoe is mentally unbalanced. This story would not serve well in first person because an author needs a relatively stable, medium character to communicate through. Zoe is in no way this medium character. Her actions, words, and choices are awkward and strange; her mind often strays. If written in first person, a reader could not connect with Zoe because what the average person would say or do if he were in her place would not compare to what she actually does. The third person perspective helps present Zoe as a character who does not lie and speaks her mind at all times. On some level, Zoe's acions reflect what the reader would do if there were no regard for societal norms.
"'Maybe I sound whiny to you,' said the girl, 'but I simply want my history major to mean something.'
'Well, there's your problem,' said Zoe, and with a smile, she showed the student to the door" (Moore, 355)
Seldomly does the average person say what they are actually thinking or feeling, especially if it could be perceived as rude. Throughout the story, I imagined the character of Zoe operating off of a Dr. Seuss quote: "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Zoe's speech and thoughts contribute to a dark tone of the story. This nature presents itself fully in the final scene with Earl when she "pretends" she is going to throw him off the side of the building. The darkness of her character separates the reader and Zoe; as the story progresses, the reader becomes less sympathetic toward Zoe.
