First Impressions Matter, Part 2: Utilzing Point of View

How we introduce our characters should be designed to create the reaction we want in our readers. Is the reader supposed to like a certain character? Mistrust him? Despise him?

Writers have many ways to influence those first impressions. One of the most powerful is point of view.

Through the eyes of a character

When Todd, the hero, meets a woman named Emma, he will make a judgment of her based on the specific details he notices. His personality and background will color which details he sees and what he feels about those details.

Imagine Todd’s first meeting with Emma:

Example 1 – A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a deep blue silk blouse and gray slacks waited in the lobby. Simple yet professional. A good sign.
“You must be Emma. Welcome to Philadelphia.”
Todd offered his hand. Emma’s grip was firm, and she met his eyes, a polite smile on her face. “Good to finally meet you in person.”
Yes, it was.

Example 2 – A woman with bottle-blonde hair, a designer silk blouse and expensive sling-backs waited in the lobby. He could sense her impatience.
“You must be Emma. Welcome to Philadelphia.”
Todd offered his hand. Emma’s grip was aggressively firm, and she stared into his eyes, an arrogant smile on her face.
“Good to finally meet you in person.”
Yeah, right.

The same woman, seen through two very different lenses, leading to very different first impressions.

Conflicting impressions

Suppose in the next scene, Todd and Emma arrive at the office, where we see them through the eyes of team member Sarah:

Sarah caught her breath when Emma strode through the door. This was not the chubby, science nerd with mouse-brown hair and eyes that rarely emerged from the pages of a book. This Emma had poise and confidence. She smiled. She looked people in the face. And someone had taught her a thing or two about fashion.

Just as two friends might have different impressions of someone they’ve just met, so might fictional characters. Introducing somebody new through several pairs of eyes allows a writer to paint a more complex picture, either reinforcing or confusing the first impression.

Misleading first impressions

Suppose by the end of the story we learn Emma is a corporate spy out to ruin the company. If a reader started with the favorable impression of Example One, it may take a lot to convince them Emma isn’t who they thought she was.

Which might be exactly what you want.

A misleading first impression can be a powerful plot device. That first meeting can sway a reader’s impression, leading to assumptions that are far from the truth, and providing the opportunity to set up a false friend or a false enemy.

Learn more techniques about first impressions in part one.