White Oleander: Analysis of Major Characters
"White Oleander: Analysis of Major Characters" explores the complex relationships and transformative experiences of Astrid Magnussen, a young girl navigating the challenges of foster care after her mother, Ingrid, is incarcerated for murder. The narrative highlights Astrid's deep devotion to her free-spirited yet manipulative mother, whose actions profoundly impact Astrid's development. Each foster mother Astrid encounters, from the troubled Starr to the self-serving Marvel, influences her understanding of love, independence, and identity. Other key figures include Ingrid's lover, Barry Kolker, whose abandonment triggers Ingrid's descent into obsession, and Olivia, a neighbor who teaches Astrid harsh truths about relationships. As Astrid matures, her relationships with peers like Paul Trout and Yvonne showcase her journey towards self-discovery and artistic growth amidst adversity. The intricacies of these characters reflect broader themes of resilience, control, and the quest for independence in a challenging world.
White Oleander: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Janet Elizabeth Fitch
First published: 1999
Genre: Novel
Locale: California
Plot: Bildungsroman
Time: 1990s
Astrid Magnussen, a young, pale girl living in Los Angeles, California. Intensely devoted to her free-spirited mother, Ingrid, Astrid is at first ecstatic when Ingrid develops an ongoing relationship with Barry Kolker, as opposed to the one-night stands in which she usually indulges. Instead of the stability she craves, however, Astrid is thrust at age twelve into the turbulent world of foster care after her mother is incarcerated for Barry's murder. In each new foster home, Astrid instinctively molds herself to match her new surroundings, alternating between precocious lover, innocent daughter surrogate, and tough street kid as circumstances demand. In retrospect, Astrid realizes that every woman she has known, for good or bad, has helped shape her as a woman and an artist.
Ingrid Magnussen, Astrid's mother. A blond poet and a dreamer who despises weakness and refuses to live by society's rules, Ingrid constantly instructs Astrid never to let anyone control her life even as Ingrid herself continues to manipulate her daughter. Contrary to her usual nature, Ingrid allows herself to fall in love with Barry Kolker and is devastated when he leaves her for a younger woman. She becomes obsessed with revenge and murders Barry by poisoning him. She is sentenced to thirty-five years in prison, abandoning Astrid to the foster care system, yet she refuses to admit that she has done anything wrong. Even from prison, Ingrid interferes in the relationships Astrid forms with her foster families.
Barry Kolker, a ponytailed writer and Ingrid's lover. Beguiled by Ingrid when she first rejected him, Barry quickly loses interest in Ingrid once she has fallen in love with him and ultimately leaves her for a younger woman. His contempt for Ingrid turns to fear once he realizes how deep her obsession with revenge runs.
Starr, Astrid's first foster mother. A former stripper and recovering alcoholic, Starr is a born-again Christian who is initially kind to Astrid in her own rough way, but she quickly becomes suspicious that Astrid, who shares Ingrid's beauty, is trying to steal her boyfriend, Ray. Fearful that she will lose Ray, Starr takes up drinking again and shoots Astrid with one of Ray's guns in a fit of drunken rage.
Ray, Starr's blond boyfriend and Astrid's lover. A carpenter, Ray is the first person to show real kindness to Astrid, and she responds by falling in love with him even though she is only thirteen years old. Ray initially resists his attraction to Astrid due to her young age, but he ultimately succumbs to her advances in spite of his guilt. When Starr shoots Astrid, however, he does not have the courage to stand by Astrid.
Marvel Turlock, Astrid's second foster mother. A trashy white woman who sells cosmetics for a living, Marvel considers herself above others, demonstrating a hostile prejudice against her African American neighbor, Olivia. Marvel and her husband, Ed, treat Astrid as an unpaid babysitter and housekeeper. However, Marvel throws Astrid out upon discovering that she has befriended Olivia, telling the foster care agency many lies about Astrid's behavior.
Olivia Johnstone, Astrid's neighbor during her stay with the Turlocks. An elegant African American woman who works as a high-class prostitute, Olivia tells Astrid that she should strive for total independence because kindness from men usually comes with a price tag. Although Olivia is kind, she is brutally honest in reminding Astrid that she does not want close personal attachments herself.
Amelia Ramos, Astrid's third foster mother. A wealthy dark-haired woman living in Hollywood, Amelia pockets the money given to her by the state for the foster children in her care and practically starves them. Driven almost mad with hunger, Astrid finally stands up for herself and demands to be moved to another placement.
Claire Richards, one of Astrid's foster mothers, a pale-skinned actress who suffers from depression. Claire quickly becomes dependent on Astrid for both approval and companionship, particularly as her abusive husband, Ron, travels constantly for his work. Genuinely attached to Astrid, Claire showers her with gifts and attention, signs her up for special art classes, and encourages her to apply for college. Claire makes the mistake, however, of contacting Ingrid, who deliberately rekindles Claire's paranoia about Ron's frequent absences. Claire ultimately commits suicide, forcing Astrid to relocate to a state-run center for minors.
Rena Grushenka, Astrid's last foster mother. A Russian immigrant, Rena survives by fostering teenage girls, scavenging through curbside trash, and selling secondhand junk at swap meets. Her ability to find value in other people's cast-offs ultimately has a great influence on Astrid's artistic growth.
Yvonne, a foster child in Rena Grushenka's home, a beautiful Latina. Unwed and pregnant with her second baby, which she will be forced to give up for adoption, Yvonne is initially suspicious of Astrid but ultimately becomes her first real female friend. Astrid attends Yvonne's childbirth classes and helps her through the birth. In spite of her growing cynicism, Astrid cannot help but be moved by Yvonne's innocent optimism in the face of difficult circumstances.
Paul Trout, Astrid's eventual boyfriend. A budding comic book artist, Paul is the first boy whom Astrid befriends on equal terms. They meet at a children's center and vow to stay in touch, but Astrid fears that she will never see him again when she learns that he has left California for New York City. Oddly enough, her stay with Rena Grushenka and her friendship with Yvonne give her the courage to track Paul down after she turns eighteen. She reconnects with him, ultimately joining him in Berlin, where they live a fringe art lifestyle that suits the person Astrid has become.