Describe symbolism in White Oleander by Janet Fitch

Barry is a traitor and a womanizer and therefore Ingrid decides to punish him. The chemical substance, which she uses to poison Barry, is called dimethyl sulfoxide, which also has the poison of the flower oleander. This poison is quickly absorbed into the skin, which leads to the lethal outcome. Sprinkling the poison in Barry’s house, Ingrid waits, when her ex-lover will be paying the price of his deed. DMSO symbolizes death, which is not possible to notice because of the fact that the poison is clear like water. This death is invisible and unexpected.