Second-Person Point of View by Julie Labuszewski

You’re called in for jury duty and chosen.

It’s a six-person jury, a criminal case. 

Domestic violence. The charges: harassment and assault in the third degree. 

All the evidence is presented. 

On the third day of the trial, you (plural) deliberate for five hours in a small room. Five of you (plural) believe the defendant is guilty. One of you (singular) believes the defendant is not guilty. The decision must be unanimous. You (plural) cannot come to a verdict. 

The judge declares a mistrial and you (plural) are dismissed. 

You (singular) are exhausted.

Now you (singular) clearly see the limitations of the second-person point of view. It’s problematic.

Julie Labuszewski’s writing has appeared in The Maine Review, The Colorado Sun, The Write Launch, among others. She holds an MFA in Writing from the University of Nebraska and works as a marketing copywriter. Visit her website or read her blog about the craft of writing.

17 May 2024