Winter Garden Vietnam Character Analysis

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In Kristin Hannah’s novel Winter Garden, the development of Anya’s character, identity, and relationship with her daughters displays the quintessence of her pessimistic mindset, which originates from her principles of home in Russia. She continues to carry home because she is unable to escape from her previous life and family in Russia, thus returning to her old habits. Her inability to adjust to her life in America further supports her morose attitude. Since Anya continues to return to her habits she develops from Russia, her traumatic connections to home stay inescapable within her. Anya’s identity and seclusion from her daughters emphasises the psychological effects from the piece of home she bears. Anya’s depressing outlook shapes her ability …show more content…

Anya’s bitter attitude towards her daughters motivates them to try and gain their mother's approval. Meredith and Nina perform one of Anya’s fairytales hoping to enjoy the “center of [their] mother’s attention” for once (6). Contrast to their hopes, Meredith and Nina unintentionally hurt Anya by mocking her only identity. Meredith and Nina remain unable to see past their mothers current actions and emotions and start to feel even more distant from her. This experience contributes towards Meredith and Nina’s resentment of Anya and works to sever their mother-daughter relationship. Anya’s inability to overcome the death of her family in Russia also hinders her ability to become closer to her current daughters. Anya’s morality shaped from the war in Russia prevents her to see further than her past experiences. Nina recalls the memory of taking a train to a statewide tournament for softball as a child, but Anya “hadn’t even cared enough about Nina to wave goodbye” (223). Anya associates Nina leaving on the train with her own memories of saying goodbye to her Russian children Leo and Anya. Anya withheld looking at Nina because she “just couldn’t watch… that” (375). Nina leaving on the train parallels Anya’s memory of seeing Leo and Anya board the train and “then they are gone” (269). Anya withholds looking at Nina leaving on the train because it painfully reminds her of losing her first two children. Anya unintentionally hurts Nina’s feelings; however, the memory of abandonment haunts Nina because of her inability to understand her mother’s past and current

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