Relationship Between Family's Past And Eleanors Present

Family’s Past and Eleanor’s Present The 1980’s was a time of comic books, making your own mixtapes and crazy fashion. Author Rainbow Rowell brings those trends back to life in one of her most famous novels, Eleanor and Park. The story takes place in Omaha, Nebraska, and follows the relationship between Eleanor Douglas, a colorfully dressed, redheaded new girl, and Park Sheridan, a half Korean, music loving boy. The closer the pair get, the harder it is for Eleanor's protective walls to come down. The past fights with her step dad and family have restricted her ability to be confident and open with other people, including Park. Her violent altercation with her stepfather, Richie, and unhelpful mother, Sabrina, mold Eleanor to assume the worst and never feel deserving of anything good. …show more content…
Months have gone past and she finally is invited back to the house. Now she is living in disgust of Richie and dreads every time she must have a conversation with him. To get kicked out, Eleanor had exploded at Richie for his grumpiness and abuse toward her and her family: “He was on her before she could brace herself, tearing the typewriter from her hands, and throwing it into the wall so hard, it broke through the plaster and hung for a moment in the lath” (Rowell 153). The family remembers the fight and becomes awkward upon her presence. This causes her to be quiet and out of the house as much as possible. This attitude and resentment towards people does not just stay in her house, but travels with her everywhere. Eleanor feels like a stranger, even being surrounded by her so-called