The Return of the Soldier
by Rebecca West

The Return of the Soldier: Unreliable Narrator 1 key example

Unreliable Narrator
Explanation and Analysis—Jenny:

While Jenny is an astute observer of the social and romantic relationships around her, her unconfessed love for her cousin Chris makes her an unreliable narrator. 

Jenny is an unmarried woman in her thirties who seems to live permanently with her cousin and his wife, Kitty. While this arrangement might not have been uncommon in her own era, when women rarely lived alone, the fact that Jenny doesn't acknowledge or explain it causes the reader to wonder about her motivations. Initially, Jenny seems content with her life, saying that she has admired Chris since childhood and finds meaning in helping Kitty create a beautiful and relaxing home life for him. She relates these details about her life in an open, straightforward tone that encourages the reader to trust her.