The Oracle or Truth-Teller

It may be in response to my college days when literature classes presented stories with the “unreliable narrator,” but I like to have at least one character in my writing who is the Oracle or Truth-Teller.  I feel this is important as most of my writing is in the mystery/suspense genre.  There is so much in the story that is hidden and needs to be revealed.  There is so much that the protagonist doesn’t know.  There is so much that the reader must decipher, to learn what is truth and what is misdirection.

So, I put Oracle or Truth-Teller characters in the stories.  Such a character is one who always tells the truth – much like that old riddle about the two guards at the two doors.  One always tells a lie; one always tells the truth.  Please note that the character isn’t always aware that he or she is the truth-teller.  The character is in place more for the benefit of the reader.  It is my hope that as the reader reaches the end of the story and the solution or truth or answer is revealed, the reader will say, “Oh, yes.  I should have known that.  Character X said so.”

In Fear of Normal the truth-teller is Sydney.  In Absentia it is both Doneta and Fletcher (along with a few other lesser characters).  In A Voice Heard in Ramah it is Bernadette.  These characters either deliberately, knowingly reveal the reality and the truth, or unknowingly identify what is going on and identify some of the symbolism and theme.