The Blind Owl

The unnamed narrator of The Blind Owl acts as the protagonist in the narrative. At the beginning of the novella, the narrator describes his work painting pen cases that his uncle takes to India and sells. In the second part of the text, he abandons his painting to write a narrative account of the events of his life. The narrator is highly unreliable; he often contradicts himself or portrays events in ways that are favorable to him. For instance, he describes in his written narrative overhearing the night watchmen singing a song about the wine of the land of Rey. Later, he sings the song to himself with the note, “I do not know where I had heard the song that I sang to myself” (64), an obvious untruth.

The narrator’s untruths can be read as an effort to paint a more favorable depiction of his own actions, particularly in his relationship with his wife, whom he murders at the end of his narrative. He justifies his actions by describing her as a “whore” who is sleeping with other men, including the old peddler, and who shows him no love or affection.