White Oleander

Most literary criticisms written over White Oleander discuss the craziness that Astrid goes through. Fitch spent a lot of time and effort on this novel and it was apparent, because “Oprah’s Book Club, where Janet Fitch’s novel first catapulted to best-sellerdom”(Bruce Newman 1). It is so enticing to read because of the ways Astrid’s mother affects her throughout the novel. Ingrid, Astrid’s mother, seems like the type of woman that on the outside she seems nice, but on the inside she is very disrespectful. Ingrid is a very strong woman but “she let her guard down with a despicable character named Barry, and when he stopped loving her she couldn’t handle it”, and that is what led her to prison (Neeter skeeters Place 2). Ingrid kills Barry by poising him with white oleanders for three reasons: first, for making her let her guard down, second, by breaking her ‘rules’ and, third, for breaking he

r heart. Since Ingrid is in jail, Astrid goes from foster family to foster family and, while doing so, “she tries to keep in contact with her mother” (Rebecca Loh 1). She discovers how difficult it is to survive without any family support. The story is sad because “Astrid must deal with her feelings of rejection, guilt, and loneliness and getting past all the barriers ultimately leads herself to hold a satisfying self-concept of herself”(Neeter skeeters Place 3). During the period of moving from home to home “she latches on to people who bother to care about her, but with each heartbreak and physical trauma, Astrid learns to become more and more independent”(Rebecca Loh 1). Even though Ingrid tries to make her daughter’s life easier, she ends up making it harder and makes Astrid feel alone and helpless, night after night. By time the novel ends, Astrid is 18 and is living happily with Paul.

According to critics and proven through the protagonist, antagonist, and sensory detail White Oleander is an unforgettable story about a mother’s relationship with her daughter that survives through thick and thin. As Astrid struggles through growing up in foster families she deals with her mothers many emotions while trying to stay happy. By the time Astrid is grown up she has already come to realize her ability to trust in men, unlike her mother and deal with whatever life brings her way.

Janet Fitch’s portrayal of Astrid the protagonist is so enticing to read in such ways that her mother affects her throughout the novel. Astrid is the daughter of Ingrid, an artist. A

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