Final answer:
Shifting from third to first person narrative allows for a more intimate portrayal of characters, merging the author's voice with the protagonist's and providing the reader with deeper insight into the characters' experiences, rather than causing confusion or illustrating a second personality.
Step-by-step explanation:
The effect of shifting from third to first person narrative is to provide a deeper, more intimate view into the character's thoughts and experiences, allowing readers to connect with the protagonist on a more personal level. In certain contexts, such as in the work of author Zora Neale Hurston, this shift can be used to merge the author's voice with the protagonist's voice, exemplified by Janie's voice in Hurston's novel. This technique can also serve to bring a story closer to the reader, as seen with the use of first-person point of view, which can effectively engage the audience by sharing the narrator's direct experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
However, this stylistic choice goes beyond simply merging voices; it also serves to create a seamless narrative experience. The transitions in narrative voice need not cause confusion within the reader; rather, they can enrich the storytelling by providing multiple perspectives and dimensions to the plot and character development. It is not typically used to illustrate a character's second personality nor to demonstrate the author's knowledge of multiple tenses. Instead, the narrative shift is a deliberate literary strategy that can enhance the storytelling through varied narrative insights and emotional resonance.