Christina Olson

Christina Olson is the protagonist of the novel. She is based upon a real person, Anna Christina Olson, who lived from 1893 to 1968 and who was the inspiration for the painting “Christina’s World” by Andrew Wyeth. Christina lives in a small rural town in Maine called Cushing, and at a young age, she becomes stricken by an illness that doctors are unable to identify. The illness damages Christina’s motor functions, thus hindering her ability to walk. She walks with a limp and often stumbles. The illness also partially affects the motor functions of her hands and arms later in her life.

As a young girl, Christina enjoys school, and she wishes to become a teacher, but her parents prevent her from doing so, instead wishing for her to remain with them on the family farm and help with household chores. Christina therefore occupies herself with chores...