Final answer:
Contemporary writers primarily use unreliable or multiple narrators to provide meaning or information that a single, reliable narrator could not convey, offering diverse perspectives, but their use is not to confuse readers or talk directly to them.
Step-by-step explanation:
Contemporary writers use multiple or "unreliable narrators" in a story mainly to give meaning or information they wouldn't otherwise be able to. An unreliable narrator is often a character who tells the story in first person and whose credibility has been seriously compromised. This technique is used not to confuse the audiences or make it more difficult to follow, nor is it primarily to allow narrators to address readers directly. Instead, unreliable narrators can offer unique perspectives and highlight the subjectivity of perception and memory, thereby deepening the reader's understanding of the narrative.
An unreliable narrator may be morally questionable, dishonest, or exhibit a flaw that distorts their recounting of events. For instance, in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Purloined Letter," the narrator shows a clear bias towards the character Dupin, and his secondhand information creates a biased portrayal of the story's events. The use of unreliable narrators requires readers to become actively engaged in piecing together the true story, analyzing the narrators’ perspectives and questioning their reliability. Additionally, a story with multiple narrators often presents first-person accounts that are biased, thus compelling the reader to interpret the text, since each perspective adds a layer of complexity. Unlike third-person omniscient narrators, who tend to be more reliable, first-person narrators and multiple narrators provide a range of biases that can contribute to a richer, more nuanced narrative. The author's purpose for using these techniques can vary, from engaging the audience to exploring complex themes and character insights.