Authors use narrative perspective and point of view to shape the reader's understanding of the story by controlling the information that is revealed and the way it is presented. The choice of a first-person, second-person, or third-person perspective can determine how closely the reader identifies with a character, how much they know about the characters, and the level of objectivity in the storytelling. The narrative perspective influences the reader's emotions, sympathies, and interpretation of events, ultimately guiding their understanding and experience of the story.