Multidisciplinary Journal of Science and Technology

NARRATIVE VOICE AND RELIABILITY IN ENGLISH NOVELS

Zafarova Nilufar

Student of the 3rd Faculty of English, Group 2409 Uzbekistan State World Languages University

Keywords: narrative voice, unreliable narrator, focalization, perspective, English novels, reader-response, metafiction

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Abstract

Narrative voice and reliability are central elements in the structure and interpretation of English novels. The narrator functions not only as a mediator of events but also as a constructor of meaning, shaping readers’ perception of truth, morality, and reality within the fictional world. This study explores the evolution of narrative voice and the concept of unreliable narration in English fiction, examining how authors manipulate perspective, subjectivity, and credibility to create complex interpretative experiences. Through qualitative textual analysis of selected English novels, the research identifies various types of narrative voices and analyzes the mechanisms that generate reliability or unreliability. The findings demonstrate that unreliable narration enhances psychological depth, invites reader participation, and reflects broader epistemological concerns in modern and postmodern literature.

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