Dramatic irony is a literary device in which the reader knows more than the characters do about a situation, which builds tension and interest in the book. For example, Moore uses dramatic irony because the reader always knows more about the dangers of radium than the characters do. This is partly constructed through the historical nature of the book, which takes place in the 20th century before the atomic bomb was developed and before other notable radiation-related disasters, such as Chernobyl and Fukushima. It is also constructed through the narrative structure, where Moore switches between Orange and Ottawa and between characters who never meet but undergo similar struggles.

The third-person omniscient point of view is a storytelling method where the author or narrator reveals the thoughts and feelings of all characters in the story. It is useful for revealing the motivations and personalities of characters in a complex story. For most of the book, Moore writes in a third-person omniscient point of view. For example, Chapter 16 reveals Arthur Roeder’s intentions, frustrations, and mood through his