Narrator and point of view

The short story “Loose Change” by Andrea Levy features a female first-person narrator. We experience the events - and Laylor - through the narrator, which means that our impression of Laylor might be affected.

The narrator’s point of view is subjective and biased. Her story about the encounter with Laylor is clearly influenced by prejudice: “She had sought me out - sifted me from the crowd. This young woman was desperate for help. She'd even cunningly made me obliged to her.” (p. 4, ll. 27- 28) 

The narrator also hides from us that she is of immigrant origin herself until the ending. Once we realise her background, we expect her to help the girl even more, thinking that she of all people must be able to empathise with Laylor. She does not, ho...