Genre
Domestic fiction novel
Setting and Context
Set in New York in 2017
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person point of view
Tone and Mood
The novel's tone is fresh and sassy; the story is stunning because Olga defines who she really is. For instance, Olga does not fall into her mother's trap; instead, she follows her passion. The mood is sanguine because nothing stops Olga from pursuing her dreams.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The central character is Olga Isabel Acevedo, and the antagonist is Matteo.
Major Conflict
There is a major conflict between Olga and her mother. Her mother keeps on discouraging her in whatever she does.
Climax
The climax comes when Olga becomes materialistic and takes advantage of her clients to enrich herself. Olga wants to be rich, and she achieves that dream when she uses her clients to climb the ladder.
Foreshadowing
Blanca’s manipulations foreshadow her children’s defiance.
Understatement
N/A
Allusions
The novel’s title “Olga Dies Dreaming” is an allusion to “Puerto Rican Obituary” by Pietri that has the line “Olga dies dreaming of a 5-dollar raise.”
Imagery
The disaster of Hurricane Maria is described using imagery. The author writes, “People, either unable to believe their own eyes or certain that later they would be doubted, were posting videos of the storm’s fury. In one, a woman in Utuado screamed as Maria ripped the roof off her home; in the background, the wind knocked the crowns off her royal palms." The description depicts a sense of sight, enabling readers to see the devastating effect of the disaster.
Paradox
The main paradox is that Olga and her brother, Prieto, do the contrary to their mother's expectations. Instead of adhering to Puerto Rican culture, the siblings accept the western culture.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
The napkin is used as a metonymy for the influence of the upper class and the rich in society.
Personification
Puerto Rican culture is personified as the savior.
