The theme of identity is arguably the most essential aspect in "The Fat Girl." Since Louise began overeating at age nine, her weight has primarily defined how others see her. Her mother tried unsuccessfully to teach her that people, especially boys, would focus on her appearance rather than her personality.

Louise's defining characteristic seems to be her secretive eating habits. She refers to it as a "ritual of deceit and pleasure," yet acknowledges it as an "insular and destructive vice." By high school, her self-image is largely influenced by her eating patterns and her weight.

At times, Louise attempts to forge an identity that isn't centered on her weight. She admits to liking certain features of her body—her eyes, lips, nose, chin, and hair. Although her list hints at her "tender soul" and "good heart," she doesn't explicitly recognize these as her positive traits. By the time she reaches college, Louise feels her identity is deeply linked to her physical appearance.

Louise also connects losing seventy pounds with losing a part of herself. She feels that more than just fat is gone; she believes she has lost a part of her identity through her weight loss journey. At this stage, Louise seems spiritually lost, noting that "her soul . . . was in some rootless flight."

Despite her internal conflicts, Louise embraces her new lifestyle because it brings fresh opportunities, such as marriage. After returning from college, she meets and marries a young lawyer named Richard.

However, Louise hasn't entirely let go of her "fat self." She tries to explain to Richard what her life was like before she lost weight, but he cannot grasp it.

By the story's end, as Louise begins to gain weight again, she feels enveloped in "layers of flesh and spirit." She reverts to what she perceives as her true identity—the fat girl.

Change and transformation are central themes in the narrative. Upon entering college, Louise embarks on a diet and sheds seventy pounds with the help of her friend Carrie. Carrie's acceptance of Louise strengthens their friendship.

The substantial weight loss results in a significant shift in how others view her. Louise's mother describes the new, slimmer version of Louise as ‘‘so beautiful,’’ and family and friends extend their congratulations. However, Louise's demeanor and behavior also change. She becomes irritable and short-tempered, even lashing out at Carrie.

Louise's weight loss leads to another major life change—her marriage to Richard. However, when she becomes pregnant, she loses the control she had worked hard to achieve during college, gradually transforming back into ‘‘the fat girl.’’

Through this transformation, Louise realizes that her husband will leave her because of his feelings of embarrassment, frustration, and alienation due to her weight gain. Surprisingly, this realization does not disturb her; instead, she embraces the change, believing that gaining weight will help her reclaim her sense of identity and security.

The friendship between Carrie and Louise plays a pivotal role in the narrative. Their bond is strengthened by mutual feelings of loneliness and dissatisfaction. During their four years at college, they live together, exchange letters over the summer, and eagerly reunite each fall. Carrie's empathy and support are essential in helping Louise navigate the difficult process of losing weight.

Carrie encourages Louise to lose weight out of concern for her friend's future after graduation, not because she believes Louise's weight is inherently problematic. Carrie worries that Louise's weight might hinder her overall happiness in life.

The importance of their friendship becomes clear when Louise begins to gain weight again. As her size increases, her friends fail to offer support and...

In Andre Dubus’s poignant narrative, “The Fat Girl,” the central theme transcends the simple tale of a young woman’s struggle with obesity. It delves into a deeper psychological hunger, a yearning for both love and unconditional acceptance. Louise, the protagonist, navigates a world that often judges her by her outward appearance rather than her intrinsic worth. Despite being raised in an environment that is far from cold or dismissive, Louise battles inner turmoil stemming from societal expectations and personal insecurities.

Louise's father plays a nurturing role, enveloping her with affection and never criticizing her weight. Meanwhile, her mother, albeit concerned about her appearance, offers guidance through dietetic lunches and maternal counsel. Yet, there exists an underlying tension due to Louise's divergence from the familial norm of thinness. Both parents, themselves slender, unknowingly exert pressure on Louise to conform to their standards. This familial dynamic is emblematic of a broader societal issue—wherein any deviation from the norm is often met with judgment rather than acceptance.

Louise’s journey toward self-acceptance is further complicated by her interactions with the world outside her family. Her struggles with self-esteem are magnified by the external validation she seeks from others, particularly from boys who overlook her, not for her personality, but because of her weight. This external validation becomes even more complex when Louise marries Richard and bears his child. Despite her efforts to transform herself by losing weight, adopting her mother's habits—such as long pale blond hair and smoking cigarettes—Louise remains plagued by the notion that Richard's love is contingent solely on her physical appearance.

Her unease is not unfounded. As Louise gradually returns to her former weight, Richard's affection dwindles, his demeanor becoming more remote and detached. This change in their relationship underscores a painful truth for Louise: the love she yearns for remains elusive when based on superficiality. The narrative suggests that Richard, much like society at large, is entrapped by a superficial understanding of love—one that fails to encompass the entirety of a person’s being.

"The Fat Girl" thus becomes a powerful exploration of identity and self-worth, where Louise's struggle symbolizes the profound human desire to be loved wholly and authentically. It highlights the pervasive challenge of being different in a world that often values conformity, illustrating how the quest for acceptance can be as much a personal battle as it is a societal one.

Louise embodies the complex struggle between self-identity and the harsh realities of societal expectations. Despite her flaws—self-indulgence, willfulness, deceit, and a tendency towards self-destruction—she unwaveringly remains true to herself. This authenticity, while commendable, places her at odds with a world that equates beauty with thinness and marginalizes those who diverge from the norm. Individuals like Louise, who defy conventional standards, often find themselves ensnared in cycles of loneliness, shame, and pity, reflecting a broader societal tendency to ostracize those who do not conform. In this narrative, Louise's journey underscores the profound impact societal pressures can have on self-perception and personal fulfillment.