Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Eleanor and Park, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Adolescence and Shame
Love and Intimacy
Poverty and Class
Family and Abuse
Summary
Analysis
Though Park has spent all day coming up with ways to “get away from the new girl,” he’s been unable to figure out a solution. There’s no way he can switch seats without drawing the attention—perhaps even the wrath—of the more popular kids. Park feels guilty for even worrying about losing his social status over doing something nice for someone else. At the same time, he knows that as long as the popular kids are making fun of the redheaded girl—or someone else like her—Park himself is safe from their taunts.
Park thinks back to that morning’s English class—the redheaded girl was there, and Park learned that her name was Eleanor when their teacher, Mr. Stessman, called on her to read a poem aloud. Eleanor had also been in Park’s history class—but luckily for him, she didn’t try to talk to him in either. Now, as she sits down on the bus beside Park, Park puts his headphones on and prays that she won’t try to talk to him.
Even though Park has learned more about Eleanor throughout the day and seen that they have common ground, he still refuses to talk to her. He doesn’t even see that she could be a good new friend for him—he only sees her as a liability.
Themes
