Epistolary Form and Unreliable Truth

The novel's structure as a collection of letters allows multiple perspectives, but also reveals how characters manipulate narratives, conceal motives, and deceive correspondents, making truth subjective and the reader complicit in deciphering reality.

The editor directly questions the authenticity of the letters, highlighting the tension between fiction and truth that is central to the epistolary form.

The letter is a straightforward social note, but its content—a request to pass a message—hints at the hidden correspondence and secret relationships that drive the plot.

The letter is a direct expression of Danceny's feelings, but the epistolary form raises questions about sincerity and the reliability of written declarations.

The letter format reveals Cecilia's subjective and emotional perspective, as she justifies her decision while admitting confusion and self-doubt, illustrating how letters can both reveal and obscure the truth.