Elizabeth Strout, a New York Times bestselling author, combines
thirteen short stories about the residents of Crosby, Maine in order to tell
the complex story of the title character in her 2008 novel, Olive Kitteridge. Written in modern-day
America, where many have questioned if society has become progressively crueler,
Strout depicts the growth of Olive Kitteridge and her struggle to overcome her
husband’s stroke. Although I sympathize with Olive, her attitude in the first
half of the novel appalled me. For instance, prior to his stroke, Henry solemnly
noted how Olive has “’never once apologized. For anything,’” (123). Henry acts
as a synecdoche of those who have experienced Olive’s cold personality and his defeated
tone, implied through his short syntax, illustrates how frustrated Olive can make
people, including her own husband. Strout evokes pathos by having Olive
discourage Henry, who people repeatedly call a “’nice man;’” readers, including
myself, who sympathize with kind, innocent men like Henry feel shocked by Olive’s
harsh treatment of him (149). She mistreats various other characters throughout
the novel’s first half; ergo, I did not feel particularly fond of Olive,
despite my extreme compassion for her struggles. However, as the novel
progressed, and especially after Henry’s stroke, Olive learned to contain her adverse
thoughts, and I began to enjoy her character more. Olive even volunteers to
help at a funeral because she knows Henry would have wanted to if he had the
ability. At the event, she offers “’Put me to work, Molly’” (167). The novelist’s
overall juxtaposition of Olive’s bossy past-self and her helpful, submissive
self illustrates her attitude shift. Although Olive did not become an instant saint
and still had negative thoughts, her efforts to act outwardly kind impressed
me. My sympathy for her remained constant throughout the novel, but my overall
opinion of Olive became progressively more positive as she began to internalize
her criticism and assist others. I advise those who dislike Olive to acknowledge
her difficult life and appreciate her efforts to become kindhearted.
Furthermore, I encourage those who found themselves relating to Olive’s actions
in the novel’s first half to mirror her attempt to increase her compassion.
I had very similar feelings with Olive throughout the novel as you did. I felt like Olive always had a softer, meeker side prior to Henry's stroke and I saw a few glimpses of it, but immediately after it, Olive's change in character appears outwardly.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if you intended to allude to Shrek with the title but I laughed at it. Anyway, the discussion of how rounded the aging character of Olive coupled with the reference to Shakespeare in your blog's name jogged my memory of a piece by Shakespeare we read in freshman year. The piece described the human life as one that started like a baby and ended like a baby, which I interpretted as innocent and vulnerable at a young age and also at an old age. Olive seemed to embody this description of life by Shakespeare as Strout characterizes her as a much softer human-being with heightened sensitivity and more feelings as she aged. Maybe that explains your increased compassion/sympathy for her as the novel progressed.
ReplyDeleteI experienced similar feelings towards Olive, for the most part. Although Olive did indeed become a little less stubborn towards the end of the story, I still felt negative vibes from her. Yes, she volunteered to help at a funeral because she knew Henry would have wanted her to, but she dreaded it the entire time. She still negatively and rudely addresses almost everybody she comes in contact with. Inevitably, I consistently felt a dislike towards Olive.
ReplyDeleteI also found myself thinking of Olive like you did. I absolutely despised her in the first half of the book, but my sympathy for her grew once Henry moved out. I saw her more as a weak and lonely old woman, than a bitter and lonely old woman as I did before.
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