Comparison Of The Fat Girl By Andre Dubus

In Andre Dubus’, “The Fat Girl”, Louise decides to stop dieting when she finally accepts herself. In Louise’s first step of accepting herself, she recognizes that her husband’s flaws are greater than hers. Louise’s husband, Richard is a shallow and vapid character who only cares about materialistic and vain things like boats. When Louise gains weight he is unaccepting and callous towards Louise. This becomes evident when Louise says, “I never knew how cruel you were” (170). Louise realizes that Richard is a cruel and mean person when he criticizes Louise’s body and lacks the compassion that Carrie had when she wanted to help Louise. This helps Louise realize her flaw of being fat isn’t the problem, but instead it is Richard’s lack of love, compassion, and acceptance for Louise. Richard

He only wants to help her diet, so she can look nice and thin again. Louise knows that Richard doesn’t genuinely care about her like Carrie. All he wants is a trophy wife who he can show off during his boat rides. Louise also accepts herself because she knows her child loves her deeply. The story says, “Beneath Richard’s voice she hears a soft crying, feels it in her heart. . .” (171). This quote explains Louise’s special relationship with her baby. She feels the baby crying in her heart and it’s like they’re connected. Louise feels “a surge of vindication and relief she holds him” (172). Louise knows that her baby accepts her and has that same love and compassion for her, because she is his mother. In Louise’s relationship with Richard, her baby is the only love that she has, so she doesn’t care if Richard leaves. By the end of the story, Louise is sure that he will leave her, and she actually feels vindicated in her beliefs. The story explains, “. . . when she enters the living room, unwrapping the candy, she is surprised to see them there” (172). Louise doesn’t hide the candy and eats it in private