White Oleander

White Oleander

The influence of motherhood can negatively affect and threaten the relationship of a mother and her daughter. Janet Fitch’s White Oleander, is about the weakness, unsteadiness and untrustworthiness of love. However, the novel centers on the power of motherhood. Fitch’s descriptive and poetic writing style skillfully uses the title flower, the white oleander, as a symbol to represent this theme.

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The oleander itself strives under intensely hot and dry weather. It is both strong and tough under the worst of situations. In Janet Fitch’s White Oleander, the white oleander represents the power of motherhood and the effects it has on Astrid.
Astrid’s mother, Ingrid, proves to be just as the oleander, staying strong even when convicted of murdering her lover, and being sent to prison. For Astrid, Ingrid is the first and most important figure in her life. She watches Ingrid’s every movement and dreams of being one day exactly like her.

As a child, Astrid is constantly feeling the guilt of holding her mother back from the life she wishes to live: “I knew the only reason we were here was because of me. If it weren’t for me, she wouldn’t have to take jobs like this. She would be half a planet away, floating in a turquoise sea, dancing by moonlight to flamenco guitar. I felt my guilt like a brand” (Fitch, 9).

It is extremely upsetting for a child to blame herself for her mother’s unhappiness. Ingrid does nothing to let Astrid believe otherwise. Not only does Astrid feel this extreme guilt, but she constantly fears the thought of her mother abandoning her one day.

Ingrid recognizes how much power she holds as a mother, and uses it to control Astrid’s life, even from prison. From the time Astrid is able to speak, Ingrid forces her to memorize poetry even though Astrid does not necessarily enjoy it. Ingrid also imposes all of her views onto her daughter. Once Ingrid is imprisoned, she continues to control Astrid’s life. When Ingrid sees her ……………………………