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The Role Of Manipulation In Janet Finch's White Oleander

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The power to be in control is the single most enduring feeling one can experience. Janet Finch’s novel, White Oleander depicts the idea that a characters determination to assume power, results in control. Astrid is able to gain control through manipulation that she uses towards her mother, her fear of loss, and her skill of creating artwork. To begin, control can be achieved through manipulation extending from determination. While Astrid and her foster mother, Claire, visit her mother, Ingrid, in jail, Astrid is forced to threaten her with never visiting again. Ingrid asks to speak to Claire alone with the hopes of sabotaging Astrid and Claire’s relationship. Despite Astrid’s pleas, Ingrid still attacks fragile Claire. Astrid attempts to …show more content…

Astrid is afraid of losing her mother, until she acknowledges that since Ingrid is now in jail, she has full control over her own life. With this control, Astrid makes it clear to her mother that she can no longer shape her or command her, “I was afraid she would always fly away, and I would end up alone. […] How clear it was without my mother behind my eyes. I was reborn. […] I am a foreword movement in time. […] I am no longer hers to command” (351-356). It is finally clear to Astrid that losing her mother is what allows her to obtain complete control over herself. Furthermore, Astrid goes fishing with Claire and Ron and catches a fish. When Ron attempts to help her, Astrid overreacts because she wants to be in control of the process of catching the fish, “‘I got one, what do I do?’ It was my fish. Nobody was going to take this fish away from me. […] I needed this fish. […] I wouldn’t lose this fish’” (271). Astrid is afraid of losing the fish, and does not acknowledge that Ron was only trying to help her capture it, and not take away her opportunity to be in control. Therefore, it is the fear of losing something that allows Astrid to gain control through

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