Unreliable Narrator – Definition, Types, and Examples

Written by

Daniel Bal

February 13, 2024

Edited by

Courtney Adamo

Fact-checked by

Paul Mazzola

What is an unreliable narrator?

An unreliable narrator is usually a first-person narrator who is intentionally or unintentionally misleading. By using an unreliable narrator, authors create a character who readers cannot take at face value. Authors use them to engage the reader, forcing them to determine who to trust and whether the information provided is accurate.

• Unreliable narrators intentionally or unintentionally deceive or mislead readers.

• The main types of unreliable narrators include the naïve narrator, outsider, picaro, madman, and liar.

• Examples of texts that use an unreliable narrator include “The Cask of Amontillado,” The Great Gatsby, and To Kill a Mockingbird.

Types of unreliable narrators

The main types of unreliable narrators are categorized into three groups:

Unreliable narrators can also be categorized based on their characteristics:

Why use an unreliable narrator?

The use of an unreliable narrator builds tension, develops themes, creates plot twists, and indicates bias.

Unreliable narrators force readers to decide what information is accurate. Questioning the intentions and truthfulness of the narrator creates anticipation and tension, as readers wonder what will happen next.

“The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe:

• Poe builds suspense as the story unfolds by using Montressor as an unreliable narrator.

• The reader wonders why Montressor leads Fortunato deeper into the catacombs.

• Montressor’s intentions are unknown, leaving readers on the edge of their seats.

The way a narrator details their world helps the author to develop their message (themes). The focus of an unreliable narrator, how they interpret the various plot points, and the information they are willing or unwilling to provide can illustrate the author’s purpose.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee:

• Lee uses a young, naïve narrator – Scout Finch – to reflect the loss of innocence.

• Scout does not entirely grasp ideas such as racism and economic equality.

• Her naivety emphasizes how others take a blind eye to the reality of their community.

• Scout’s view is influenced by her inexperience; the town’s view is influenced by their prejudice.

Withholding information or steering readers in the wrong direction makes it hard to predict how the plot will unfold and can create plot twists. Making the plot unpredictable naturally leads to unexpected character development, conflicts, and resolutions.

“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson:

• The unnamed narrator in “The Lottery” details the selection process of the lottery while withholding what the winner receives.

• The reader eventually discovers that the winner becomes a sacrificial offering who the rest of the town stones to death.

• Not revealing this information earlier allows Jackson to develop an intense plot twist.

Unreliable narrators may indicate their bias by withholding certain information, providing a one-sided argument, only interacting with characters that share their values, or overlooking/ignoring certain plot points or negative/positive character traits.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald:

• Through the eyes of Nick Carraway, Fitzgerald illustrates the narrator overlooking the flaws in Jay Gatsby’s character.

• Fitzgerald stresses Gatsby’s influence and his ability to project a certain image.

Unreliable narrator examples

The following narrators from classical works are considered unreliable: