Eleanor and Park
by Rainbow Rowell is a book written on the perspective of two high school teens
that cannot fit into the mold. Whether that mold be from parents, their peers,
or even themselves. Let me begin with Park. He seemed to have had a normal
childhood growing up. Loving mom, a dad who was around, and an annoying younger
brother. This is the surface however. Park has a soft personality, quiet and
quirky. He is intelligent. He is weak though. Not just in the physical sense
but in the emotional and social sense. Almost cowardly. This aspect, this very
thing is what he dislikes the most about himself. Every time a situation arises
and he cowers, he thinks of his father's commentary. His father sounds like a
stereotypical man's "man". Drives a stick, calls his son a pussy, has
an adoring wife. These are the characteristics that his father is looking for
in Park and Park exhibits near to none. Park is dormant. He is maneuvering
through his life, taking the path of least resistance. Alive but not really
living.
Then there is Eleanor. She is fiery and not meaning her
hair. She has not lived a pampered life, nor had a normal childhood. Yet I
find her to be alive! She feels everything. This makes sense since her nerves
have been on edge for most of her life. I find her hypersensitive but at the
same time laid back. She has in intrinsic insight to see things for what they
are instead of what everybody may pretending they may be. Her most aspiring
quality is her ability to stand out, continually. She never tries to fit in. She
merely just is.
The beauty of the two is that Eleanor is bringing life to
Park. She is teaching him how to feel and in return he is teaching her to trust
and to love. She is teaching him courage and identity without him even knowing
it. This is the beauty of love and the human connection. Although they are very
different creatures, they find solitude in each other for the attributes that
each lack. A beautiful enigma.
More about the characters? http://www.shmoop.com/eleanor-and-park/characterization.html
I would argue that they are teaching each other to be courageous. Both of them are cowards in their own way, Eleanor is reluctant to let Park get to know her fully, and Park is worried about what people think about him. Together they are learning that both of their fears are irrelevant.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with your opinion on how this story is beautiful. I find this story to be a bit forced. It seems to me that Park fell in love with Eleanor just because she started reading his comic books. Maybe it'll go on to the full reason on what park sees in her in the next section of the book.
ReplyDeleteI think when he finally noticed Eleanor reading the comics, Park started noticing her with more depth. It still took a while before he "fell" for her.
DeleteI have to agree with Lorraine on this one, both characters have their issues but they are learning to get over it.
ReplyDeleteI like your description of Eleanor and how she never tries to fit in. I was thinking the same thing. She just acts how she wants despite what people may think.
ReplyDeleteI like your description of Eleanor and how she never tries to fit in. I was thinking the same thing. She just acts how she wants despite what people may think.
ReplyDeleteI also think that its cool how two completely different types of kids fall for each other. I think that them being so different from each other is what connects them because they can introduce new life styles and interests to one another.
ReplyDeleteI loved your writing style, and word choice. Nice way to think outside of the box, about Eleanor and Park. I'm starting to think even though both of the characters have two completely different lifestyles, they have similar personalities.
ReplyDelete