Why might the narrator directly address and question the reader?What are two reasons why the narrator might directly address and question the...

It is unusual for a narrator to address the reader, but
there are instances when the narrator does directly address the reader.  For example,
Charles Dickens often addressed his readers as "dear reader" and spoke directly to
them.  The narrator does this for several reasons.  Two such reasons are to point out
important themes and to directly characterize characters.  I do think this is effective
when it's use is limited.

There are often times when the
author wants to make a thematic point very clear to the reader, so the author directly
addresses the reader.  When the narrator directly addresses the reader, the reader feels
more intimiately a part of the story and this can be a very effective and powerful
tool.  When the narrator is always talking to the reader, the effect is different.  Whe
sparingly used, the author can call attention to what's important this
way.

Another method authors use is direct
characterization.  Sometimes the author wants to share an inside joke with the reader
behind the character's back.  Either way, the narrator sometimes needs to talk directly
to the reader to share some information about one of the characters.  This too can be
very effective, because it draws the reader's attention to what the author feels is most
important.