“One Hundred and Eighty Four Pound Louise”
In Andre Dubus’ short story “The Fat Girl” (125) he gives us insight into eating disorders and mental health from the late 1960’s to the early 1970’s. Throughout this piece he uses formal language along with a third person narrator to illustrate how someone could lead a double life; like that of “fat” (126) and “thin” (136) Louise. This story uses the characters opinion of self, societal influence, as well as neglect and lack of support to bring attention to a lifelong eating disorder and mental health.
Louise, “knew why she was fat: she was fat because she was Louise.”(126) Louise, the protagonist, in this short story identifies herself as a fat girl and later a fat woman. As a child at age, “nine” (126) “her mother would say” (126) that she should, “start watching what” (125) she ate. Can you imagine? You are nine years old and look to your mother for guidance; but based on what society tells her is “beautiful” (134) that can never be what are? This can really define a child’s sense of …show more content…
Louise went from being, “a furtive eater of sweets,” (126) to a smoker and right back to eating sweets all over again. Addiction is something that wasn’t taken very seriously at this time. Andre Dubus uses dismissive language to illustrate how little was known about mental disorders; he even mentions how Carrie remained, “a victim of her unpredicted malaise. “(135) I believe he was speaking to how depression at this time was view as a laziness that was unexplainable. We now know that depression is a real mental disorder that affects many different types of people across cultures. For Louise the only accepting person in her life was, “her father” (129) although at times his, “eyes were pity and encouragement.” He genuinely cared for his daughter. He loved her for who she was and always showed concern when it came to
In Andre Dubus’ short story “The Fat Girl” (125) he gives us insight into eating disorders and mental health from the late 1960’s to the early 1970’s. Throughout this piece he uses formal language along with a third person narrator to illustrate how someone could lead a double life; like that of “fat” (126) and “thin” (136) Louise. This story uses the characters opinion of self, societal influence, as well as neglect and lack of support to bring attention to a lifelong eating disorder and mental health.
Louise, “knew why she was fat: she was fat because she was Louise.”(126) Louise, the protagonist, in this short story identifies herself as a fat girl and later a fat woman. As a child at age, “nine” (126) “her mother would say” (126) that she should, “start watching what” (125) she ate. Can you imagine? You are nine years old and look to your mother for guidance; but based on what society tells her is “beautiful” (134) that can never be what are? This can really define a child’s sense of …show more content…
Louise went from being, “a furtive eater of sweets,” (126) to a smoker and right back to eating sweets all over again. Addiction is something that wasn’t taken very seriously at this time. Andre Dubus uses dismissive language to illustrate how little was known about mental disorders; he even mentions how Carrie remained, “a victim of her unpredicted malaise. “(135) I believe he was speaking to how depression at this time was view as a laziness that was unexplainable. We now know that depression is a real mental disorder that affects many different types of people across cultures. For Louise the only accepting person in her life was, “her father” (129) although at times his, “eyes were pity and encouragement.” He genuinely cared for his daughter. He loved her for who she was and always showed concern when it came to