Fuentes uses an interesting combination of past and future tenses when Cruz is thinking about his life. What is the purpose of this? Do you think it is effective or does it create confusion for the reader?

The author employs a distinctive "frame within a frame" structure. All of the novel's "action" takes place in Artemio Cruz's mind as he lies on his deathbed. Yet, within that frame, there are several different points of view.

Often events are told from Catalina's point of view. As Cruz's estranged wife, it is unlikely that she would have shared her innermost thoughts and feelings with him, yet he sees scenes through her eyes - even when he was in another city. He also sees scenes through the eyes of Regina, his long-dead first love. He sees Lorenzo's death from his son's point of view, although they were in different countries at the time.

This particular technique allows Fuentes to introduce a much wider variety of material into the novel. It also implies the existence of God and of eternal life, though Cruz does not believe in either. Cruz is gifted with a God-like omnipotence in his final days, frequently viewing events through the eyes of another person. In his illness, Cruz can "remember" scenes that occurred when he was not present and is privy to others' most intimate thoughts and feelings. This very omnipotence implies that Cruz is on the brink of ete