A jerk narrator is often an unreliable one. If they are busy insulting everyone, you have to wonder: What are they trying to hide? Their bias becomes a character trait you have to decode.
This common critique usually pops up when a narrator is unreliable, judgmental, or straight-up antagonistic toward the characters they’re describing. Here’s a breakdown of why this happens and why authors do it. The "Voice of God" with an Attitude The Narrator Is a DICK
In dark comedies or satires (think Lemony Snicket or Douglas Adams), a cynical narrator sets the stage. If the narrator doesn't take the world seriously, the reader knows they’re in for a ride that’s more about wit than sentimentality. A jerk narrator is often an unreliable one