Olive has my attention

I believe that author Elizabeth Strout possesses two distinct writing qualities that have contributed to the appeal of her novel, Olive Kitteridge. Throughout the first third of the novel, Strout develops the story of protagonist Olive Kitteridge as well as the characters whose lives are somehow intertwined with hers in their small town of Crosby, Maine. Strout evolves both these characters as well as their individual stories utilizing indirect characterization and suspense. For example, when first introducing the relationship of Olive’s husband, Henry Kitteridge, and his co-worker Denise Thibodeau, Strout indirectly characterizes Olive as jealous through her harsh tone towards Denise, saying, “’No one’s cute who can’t stand up straight’” (5). This particular indirect characterization becomes significant in the novel because it introduces the conflict of Olive’s jealousy, stemming from Henry’s compassion for another woman. The indirect characterization not only develops Olive more as a character, but also provides a sense of foreshadowing, implying that the relationship between Henry and Denise will become more intimate. In addition to this instance, Strout indirectly characterizes Kevin as extremely sinister after including his wish to work with psychiatry patients “whose feet had been beaten raw” (36). In doing so, the author successfully juxtaposes Kevin’s dark feelings to Olive’s friendly advice. Strout effectively illustrates the influence of which Olive has over people in her life through her prevention of Kevin’s suicide. Furthermore, Strout’s use of suspense appeals to my enjoyment as a reader. With a foreboding tone and sharp diction, Strout successfully portrays the suspense of a tragedy, writing, “A Saturday at home…’you poor, poor child’” (18). With short syntax, and a lack of emotions in description, merely a summary of the incident, Strout creates suspense that will ultimately be a turning point in the chapter, “Pharmacy”. The loss of Denise’s husband results in sympathy from Henry, adding to the tension between he and his wife at home. With so many characters, it’s extremely interesting to see the way in which each of the extra characters’ own personal trials ultimately affect Olive and her immediate family. I think these factors contribute for a more interesting plot, holding my attention easily. Another example of suspense in the novel transpires as Kevin’s plan to commit suicide. Without even knowing about his suicide, something troubling is implied with Strout’s illustration of him. The author displays Kevin as loitering, explaining, “How much time went by, Kevin didn’t know” (31). Again, with short syntax and lack of explanation of what Kevin planned to do, suspense became introduced along with a curiosity of his intentions. The inclusion of Kevin’s inner conflict in addition to the way in which Olive acted as a savior to him (preventing him from taking his own life) added interest to the story as a whole, as well as the interest of Olive Kitteridge and how she seems to play a role in the lives of many eccentric people. With the use of indirect characterization and suspense, Strout appeals to the reader’s interest. And in all of these instances, she proves that compassion can be both harmful and beneficial to those who believe otherwise.