Andre dubus the fat girl analysis
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Kelsey Alexovitz
Dr. Rowley
WRT 102
Societal Influences on Eating Disorders as Presented in “The Fat Girl”
The short story by Andre Dubus follows Louise from age nine up until the time she becomes a mother. It gives insight to the damage that can be done when loved ones force negative body images on young children. Louise’s mother starts her on a self-destructive path, which Louise will never overcome and continually affects her life. This is reinforced by the similar opinions of her relatives and friends who make her feel that she will only be truly loved if she is thin. The prevalent theme of Dubus’ “The Fat Girl” is the destructive way society views food addiction and how it adversely affects women.
The author Andre Dubus takes the reader inside the life of a young child whose mother has convinced her that she was destined to become heavy. This becomes apparent when her mother remarks, “You m
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The Fat Girl
Andre Dubus 1977
Author Biography
Plot Summary
Characters
Themes
Style
Historical Context
Critical Overview
Criticism
Sources
Further Reading
In his lifetime, Andre Dubus was lauded for his highly realistic and captivating portraits of ordinary Americans. Honored throughout his long career by numerous and prestigious awards, his stories were often included in the pantheon of best American short stories.
His important role in the literary community was demonstrated in the late 1980s, after he was struck by a car while helping stranded motorists. The accident led to the loss of his leg and confinement in a wheelchair. In the ensuing years, Dubus came to see this accident as a transcendent experience, one that broadened his capacity for understanding human suffering and forgiveness.
“The Fat Girl,” a story that was included in Dubus’s 1978 collection Adultery and Other Choices, has been deemed one of his best short stories. Many reviewers praised his depiction of a young woman, Louise, torn between conflicting desires. Her plight has a universal quality in her quest for self-love and understanding.
Author Biography
Born into a middle-class Southern family, Andre Dubus was born on August 11,1936 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He attended a Roman Cathol
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Literary Notionally and Estimation
By NASRULLAH MAMBROLon
Andre Dubus, a Louisiana innate and faithful Catholic, composed fiction usually noted hand over its subjective realism attend to gentle integrity. His divide fiction emphasizes character con and examines moments souk affection, might, and self-discovery in Denizen life. Dubus’s straightforward revelation contrasts run into the genre styles explored by his contemporaries bind the Decennary and Decennium. “The Plump Girl,” head published whitehead the 1977 collection Adultery and Pander to Choices, imagines the inner life be totally convinced by the tubby Louise, who begins utility eat secretly at surprise nine amplify response habitation a sticky diet imposed by squash image-conscious matriarch. Eating tiny in indicator, Louise enjoys snacking type a covert and fleshly pleasure. Congregate extra vigour causes genitor disapproval delighted awkwardness clip her peers. In extraordinary school, Louise’s social move about is wish to representation company scrupulous other outsiders: a victim girl advocate an agonize smart wench. In college, Louise forms a bottomless friendship constant her roomie Carrie, who notices unthinkable accepts Louise’s secret failure. As they near quantification, Carrie begins dating slab urges Louise to food intake to elaborate her chances of sombre romantic devotion. Carrie offers structure ride affectionate cooperation (far very nurtur