When narration becomes reliable (or unreliable)
Herman Melville may have reminded readers about the impact of a first-person narration, as they became unwilling guests of the Pequod. If it was the omnipresent narrator, then there would be a likely chance that they could close the book before Captain Ahab first spotted the albino whale. It also seemed unfitting to use the third person in such a story. (Readers might suspect that there may be forces beyond the control of the crew, but that would be Melville's intent in this never-ending saga.) "Moby Dick" was an excursion into the unknown, where the sea met the horizon. There was no doubt about the existentialist themes, as the titular character was an enigmatic figure to the crew. Readers who could discern such themes would be enlightened, and then pierced by it. This doesn't mean that they won't end up demented like Ahab.
On the other hand, a first person doesn't guarantee an immediate, if not warm, response from the readers. Daphne du Maurier's "Rebecca" would be such a case, where the narrator (and the wonders) wondered what was the big deal about the titular character. Rebecca might not have been a good (first) wife to Mr. de Winter. She could have an obsessive-compulsive character, which made an impact on Mrs. Danvers. There might be something about the relationship between the mistress and her devoted servant. The ending described a palatial estate in ashes, with no Mrs. Danvers in sight. Perhaps Rebecca intended it to happen that way.
A narrator would serve many purposes. Readers could count on another point of view, which would enable them to think about the other themes. They don't have to rely on the author, who must provide a climax and a resolution in the final chapters. It shouldn't be the case. A narrator could be objective about the characters, which would help the readers decide for themselves. (It would be normal for some characters to influence readers, so there must be a neutral party.) A narrator also helped the readers point to other details they overlook in the previous chapters. It won't be the lovely garden, even an unkempt appearance at early morning.
Let's focus on the third-person narrator. What could be the most-recommended titles? Here's five for starters:
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The narrator could be one of those absurd characters in Wonderland, which forced Alice to go beyond the teenage phase sooner than later. Lewis Carroll left a mystery here and there, which would engage the readers. The author might have the Cheshire Cat in mind.
Don Quixote. The chivalrous knight and his loyal squire could have been the laughing stock of the town, but the narrator made sure that their noble intentions won't go unnoticed.
Fight Club. The narrator seemed to be unreliable and untrustworthy, but it was hard to resist those strong words.
Madame Bovary. The omnipresent character could be one of those unhappy inhabitants in the small community, where Charles Bovary and his wife lived all these years. Perceptive readers would figure out the outcome right away, but curiosity got the better of them.
Pride and Prejudice. It won't be hard to imagine a judgmental people during Victorian England, but the narrator in Jane Austen's celebrated novel don't mince words. It would be uncalled for in a 19th-century society, so there was a need to keep that person incognito. The same character would provide entertainment as well.
