In "A Sorrowful Woman," how does author Gail Godwin use point of view to give meaning to the story?

"A Sorrowful Woman" by Gail Godwin is written in the third person point of view in a fable-like fashion. The short, clipped sentences give it a detached feeling, as though someone is observing the story unfold much like one might read an article in the newspaper--almost as though a reporter is giving the readers the news of the day.

The story is about a woman who seems to have a pretty perfect life, yet she can no longer stand to see her own child and husband. We never really find out why, though it is assumed that she is suffering from depression. The point of view lets us observe this woman's daily life, but we are kept at a distance much like her husband and child are kept at a distance due to her desire to be away from them. She detaches herself, first from her family, then from the outer world, and eventually from herself. This is much like the detachment created by using the third person point of view to tell the story in an emotionless, matter-of-fact manner.