Fran , when compared to Olla, shares similarites and yet differs with her. What makes this comparison interesting is that these similarities and differences change as the story progress. In the beginning of the story, Fran is definetly more different than Olla.
In a few ways they are opposites. For instance, Fran has long hair that reaches her back, which is something that Jack apparently likes very much. Olla has her hair up in a bun, and Bud never mentions anything about it. Fran is thin and in good shape, while Olla is descibed and "plump". Finally, Fran also does not want kids. Olla has a child already, however, and is very proud and loving of her child. In another point, Fran seems to be very laid back, and willing to go with the flow. Olla is very organized. This is seen when Bud tells Jack to come over at 7:00 because Olla feeds the baby at 6:00. They do not have very much in common for the beginning half of the story.
The real link between the two women is Harold the baby. Although Fran has said that she does not want kids, when she is at Bud and Olla's residence, she continuosly asks to see the baby. When she does finnaly get ahold of the baby, she plays with him and babytalks with him. By actually getting to see a baby upclose, Fran's view of children is changed.
After that night, similarities start to appear between the 2 women where differences once stood. As Fran was leaving, for instance, Olla gave her one of Joey's feathers. This represents the acceptance of Fran from Olla. The readers find out that later in the story Fran has Jack's child. She cuts her long hair and gets fat, seemingly becoming more like Olla.Jack notes that she has become different from how she used to be and act.
By comparing the 2 women during each segment of the story, one can see how the women change. One can see how deeply affected Fran becomes from the dinner. This suggests that when Fran said she did not want kids, that maybe she had just never interacted with kids before, or never in a way that touched her like the dinner party did. Olla, basically, was the inspiration Fran needed to enter the mindset of motherhood.
