The use of second-person narration in 'A Soldier for the Crown' creates an intimate and immersive experience for the reader, directly engaging them and enhancing the relationship between the reader and the main characters. The choice of narrative voice can evolve throughout the text, influencing the reader's connection to the narrator's journey and the unfolding of characters' identities.
The quote in question, lines 160/161 from 'A Soldier for the Crown', refers likely to the use of second-person narration which can create a intimate connection between the reader and the narrative. The choice of a second-person perspective can immerse the reader into the story by making them feel as though they are part of it, possibly observing or interacting with the main characters. This narrative style can bring readers closer to understanding the identity of the main characters by directly implicating them in the characters' experiences.
In the context of the poem discussed, the use of the second person in the first half of the poem creates a sense of an audience, while the change in the latter half where the narrator speaks to themselves brings a reflective tone. This shift can also suggest a transformation in the narrator's voice over the course of the text, which could influence the reader by engaging them more directly at first, then inviting them to partake in the narrator's inward journey.
The use of second-person narration in poetry and literature can serve to blur the boundaries between the characters and the readers, highlighting commonalities in human experience, such as the shared perception of beauty, regardless of context. In 'A Soldier for the Crown', it might serve to both separate and associate the narrator with the experiences of the main characters, further developing the complexity of the characters' identities.