The point of view you choose to tell a story from can dramatically shape its contents and meaning. Most writers are familiar with the first, second, and third points of view. They’ve been the go-to choices for storytellers for generations.
But what about another kind of perspective? One that recognizes the narrator as a collective or indefinite rather than an individual.
What Is Fourth Person POV?
The 4th person point of view is a fairly recent development in storytelling and, as such, is still uncommon and underutilized. You can use it to capture and convey shared experiences, cultural norms, a collective consciousness, and anything that isn’t limited to only one individual.
You can use it in two ways: as a voice for a collective or an indefinite narrator.
The Collective
When used for a collective, it represents not just one character but a group, society, or even humanity as a whole. It is a voice that speaks for “a lot of people” or “everyone”.
Here, you use plural pronouns such as “we”, “us”, and “our”. You can also find these in the first-person perspective, sometimes alternating with singular pronouns like “I” and “me”. However, the 4th person POV differs because it uses no singular pronouns. We’ll expand on this further down in this article.
Another angle to consider is its use of concepts that are universal to the human experience. Because you, the reader, are familiar with and have experienced these concepts, you become part of the “we”, along with everyone else who can relate.
There is no singular narrator. The story always comes from the perspective of multiple narrators working as a single unit.
The Indefinite
A more common use of the 4th person POV is through indefinite pronouns such as:
- someone/somebody
- one/oneself
- anyone/anybody
- none/nobody
- everyone/everybody
Because they don’t specify a single person, you usually use it to generalize or avoid using the passive voice.
You can apply an action, consequence, or event to a broad group without singling out specific people. You use this approach when it is more practical and realistic to generalize instead of specifying.
Some examples are:
- Anybody could have taken the money and run off.
- One should not sit down before greeting their hosts.
- Everybody is welcome to participate in all three events.
Fourth Person Vs First Person
As mentioned, the 1st person POV also utilizes the pronouns “we”, “us”, and “our”. So what makes the 4th person POV a separate perspective?
Here is an example of the 1st person POV:
“We were the problem children—always the ones who’d get in trouble and find ourselves in detention. I liked it; it just meant I had more time with people who understood me. Sure, we were outcasts, but we were together.”
Here, the narrator uses both singular and plural nouns. However, the perspective is still that of an individual. You don’t know if the other problem children enjoy being in detention.
The individual is simply describing parts of the story that involve other characters. Even if you include another character’s thoughts, you’d simply be shifting to their perspective, not merging them into a collective voice.
Here is an example of the 4th person POV:
“We rise early, our footsteps the first to echo on the pavement while the city still sleeps. We always march in unison to the rhythm of labor and routine. Come evening, we sleep. And the morning will rise again.”
In this POV, there is no singular viewpoint. The POV recognizes that multiple people are involved, but considers their thoughts and actions as a collective.
Advantages
Here are some reasons why you might want to use the 4th person point of view.
Narrative Scope
Many stories focus on the individual. In a way, they become representatives of a certain group. But sometimes you want to portray that group as a whole.
The 4th person POV does just that. You can easily enter the minds of many people at once and quickly establish their general moral, intellectual, and cultural identity. This way, you can give your narrative a broader, more inclusive scope without it being lengthy.
This works well with stories that emphasize social or cultural dynamics, such as historical narratives, dystopian fiction, and sociological essays. And because the narrative doesn’t center around an individual, it motivates readers to consider the wider implications of your story.
Distance
The 4th person POV creates distance by shifting the focus from individual narratives to a collective experience. This creates a sense of objectivity as you’re telling a story from a broader perspective without the bias of a singular viewpoint.
Distance can also create detachment. Use it to soften the blow of heavy or complex themes. You’re not diluting your message. Rather, you’re creating a contemplative space where readers can process your story more thoroughly.
Collective Identity
With the 4th person POV, you can highlight the interconnectedness of individuals within a certain group—whether it’s a community, generation, or species. This works best for stories that tackle issues of identity, belonging, and the shared human experience.
How does a collective shape an individual and vice versa? Why do many people share experiences despite living separate lives? What do a group’s actions and beliefs say about it?
Flexibility
The 4th person POV is flexible because it can generalize. Remember, this POV presents a collective but still recognizes the individuals within.
Consider this paragraph:
“There was a loud ‘boom’ and alarms were suddenly blaring out. And then we felt the heat and saw the smoke. Some of us froze while others screamed and pushed towards the exits. A few were rattled but tried to maintain order. Everybody knew we needed to escape.”
In the 4th person POV, you can quickly shift perspectives within a group. You can show different actions and emotions without the need to single out an individual character. Here, some people froze in fear, others panicked, and a few tried to lead.
So you’re able to generalize about a group’s experiences while still allowing for specific details from individual members. This allows you to explore different facets of a shared experience.
Importance of POV
Point of view is an essential element of storytelling because it shapes your reader’s experience and insights. Depending on the contents of your story, a specific POV can better deliver your meaning compared to the rest.
The 4th person is a unique POV that expands the possibilities of your storytelling. However, it’s still relatively unknown and difficult to pull off. Readers are used to stories with well-defined characters and might have trouble with a story that is more generalized.
Still, it’s a great way to explore the dynamics of a group without alienating anyone. Used well, you could create a deeper, more immersive story that many people can relate to.
Have you written in the fourth person? Share your thoughts below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- Third Person Omniscient POV: Advantages and Limits
- Point of View Explained: Writing POV Correctly Can Save Your Story
- First Person Point of View: Tips, Examples, and Benefits of This Perspective
- Second Person Point of View: How to Place Your Reader in the Action
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
