Victor Ollnee's Discipline

by Hamlin Garland

"Victor Ollnee's Discipline" by Hamlin Garland is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story follows Victor Ollnee, a college student and athlete, who faces a personal crisis after discovering that his mother, a medium, is under attack by the press for her controversial profession. As Victor grapples with his identity and the shame associated with his mother's work, he becomes determined to defend her and reevaluate their relationship amid the turmoil. At the start of the novel, Victor wakes up late after a strenuous baseball game and is confronted by his fraternity brothers, who are discussing an article in the local newspaper disparaging his mother, Lucile Ollnee, as a fraud. As Victor reads the article, he becomes overwhelmed by a mix of shock, anger, and shame, ultimately vowing to confront his mother and the world that threatens their existence. The narrative sets the stage for Victor’s internal struggle between familial loyalty and societal judgment, as well as his determination to support and understand his mother's complex life as a medium, foreshadowing deeper explorations of belief, identity, and the nature of reality throughout the book.