Question

How does the use of second-person point of view affect your understanding of the relationships between the characters in the story "Once in a Lifetime"? What limitations does it set?

Answer 1

From plato:

The second-person point of view gives readers the narrator Hema’s perspective, as she views and talks about the world around her. The second-person point of view helps describe both Kaushik and Hema’s upbringing that contrasts their childhoods, as well as their parents’ lives. The second-person point of view draws readers into the story to experience the Indian culture. This point of view also helps readers understand how the narrator feels about the “you”—Kaushik—that she is directly addressing.

The limitation of this second-person point of view, however, is that the reader can evaluate events only from Hema’s perspective. For readers to understand the events in the story, Hema has to be aware of the events occurring. For example, the reader only learns about Kaushik’s mother’s cancer when Hema discovers it toward the end of the story.

Answer 2

In "Once in a Lifetime" the use of the second-person in the narration gives the reader Hema's point of view. It helps the reader to understand the relationship between Hema and Kaushik, their childhood and the life their parents have. It also immerses the readers in the Indian culture. As regards limitations it can be said that the reader can only see the story from Hema's point of view. So, she is responsible for what the reader knows or ignores in the story.