Since You've Been Gone Archetypes Synthesis Page

My claim for this synthesis page is that characters can fit their archetypes in obvious but also discreet ways. For example, Frank very clearly fits his archetype, but Beckett fits his in a less obvious way. In the real world, this is also true. People can express traits in obvious, explicit ways- but, you often don't know what people are really like until you get to know them, because their traits are less obviously expressed.

Eleanor and Park Reading Response

It is a well-known fact that, unfortunately, many great love stories are tragedies. Eleanor and Park, a novel by Rainbow Rowell, is a romance that doesn’t exactly have a happy ending. But, what makes it interesting is that Eleanor, one of the main characters, certainly doesn’t go down without a fight. Eleanor fits the archetype of the determined victim- she definitely has it rough, but she bravely forges onward. 

One example of difficulty in Eleanor’s life is her appearances. Eleanor is the new kid in school, and everyone harasses her about her weight. They call her mean names like “Big Red”, and they judge her for the way she looks in her clothes. Because of this, many other girls at school do hateful and mean things to shame her. Page 55 of the book states: “When Eleanor got the the locker room, she realized why Tina had been so low-key; she was just waiting. Tina and her friends- and the black girls, too, everybody wanted a piece of this- were standing at the end of Eleanor’s row, waiting for her to walk to her locker. It was covered with Kotex pads. A whole box it looked like...Somebody had written RAGHEAD and BIG READ on a few of the pads...Instead, Eleanor walked past the girls, with her chin held as high as she could manage.” This quote proves that Eleanor was being severely harassed at school. The bullying had gotten out of control, and Eleanor was definitely a victim of this torture. But, through all the pain and embarrassment, Eleanor still managed to hold her head high and prove to the bullies that they couldn’t get to her.

Another example of a tough situation in Eleanor’s life is her family. After being away from them for a long time due to a huge fight, Eleanor finally came home. She expected everything to be the same as once she had left, and that wasn’t the case. This was very hard for Eleanor to deal with, especially because her family dynamic had shifted so much. Before Eleanor had left, her and all the other kids were allied against Richie, their evil stepfather. But now, Eleanor returns to everyone calling Richie “dad”, and acting totally submissive to his cruelty, which was extremely difficult for Eleanor to adjust to. Eleanor now feels very much like an outsider in her own home. Page 15 of the text states: “Eleanor had spent so much time thinking about what it would be like to finally come home and how much she’d missed everybody- she thought they’d throw her a ticker tape parade. She thought it would be a big hugfest. But when Eleanor walked into the house, it was like her siblings didn’t recognize her.” This shows how Eleanor feels very unwanted within her family. But, Eleanor doesn’t let this get to her, and continues to try and protect and bond with her younger siblings.

One final example of hardship in Eleanor’s life is her relationship with her step dad, Richie. Richie is cruel and awful to her, he teases her about her clothes and weight, and calls her names. But the worst thing Richie has done by far is writing these inappropriate notes in Eleanor’s textbook. The notes were really threatening and rude. Page 286 in the text states: “‘Eleanor...’ he said. ‘What’s going on?’ He was pleading. ‘I have to leave,’ she said. She was looking across the table like she’d just seen a ghost. Like she was one. ‘Why?’ he said. ‘Is this about tonight?’...’No,’ Eleanor said, rubbing her eyes. ‘No. It’s not about us. I mean...’ she looked out the little window. ‘Why is your step dad looking for you?’ ‘Because he knows, because I ran away.’ ‘Why?’ ‘Because he knows.’ Her voice caught. ‘Because it’s him.’ ‘What?’ Eleanor started over. She told him everything. And Park’s hands started shaking before she was halfway through.” This bit of dialogue is a very raw description of what Eleanor was like when she found out that Richie had been writing her the notes all along. This must have been a shocking and extremely scary situation. It must have been awful for Eleanor to find out that someone who was such a big part of her life, like it or not, had been doing something so horrible to her. But, she found the courage to open herself up to Park and say what she was really feeling.

As these examples have proven, Eleanor has been through many hardships and difficulties in her life. She has faced social, family and economic issues, and she still manages to persevere and keep her head up, no matter what. Even when she feels like giving up was her only option, or she feels like the enemy had won, Eleanor doesn't quit. Eleanor fits into the archetype of the determined victim because although things don’t go her way, Eleanor is strong and brave and she continues to fight for herself. Eleanor truly is a role model for girls and women everywhere.

Every Day Reading Response

Picture this: you wake up every day in a different body, not knowing who you are. It sounds like an impossible situation to deal with, but this is what A’s life is like every single day. The book Every Day by David Levithan is a fascinating story about a person who’s life is essentially meaningless. He wakes up each morning as a different person, with access to all of their memories- but also to his own. He is someone new every day, but his conscience remains. He goes day by day, trying not to mess up the body’s life, but by doing this, he restricts his own capabilities. This is how it has been for as long as he can remember- until, one day, he meets the love of his life. Rhiannon. After his day in that body is up, he keeps in touch with Rhiannon and eventually tells her his secret. They fall deeply in love- but because of the circumstances, their relationship is naturally complicated, but equally real and passionate. 
One example of this is how A wakes up as a different person every day, and Rhiannon finds it difficult to “see” him inside the body he’s in. In order for her to love him, she has to love his personality and spirit, not his body- and she does. Rhiannon does her best to accept A no matter what, and shows A that she loves him. One example of when Rhiannon expresses this difficulty is from page 153 in the text: “‘Why? Because one morning you could wake up on the other side of the country. Because I feel like I’m meeting a new person every time I see you. Because you can’t be there for me. Because I don’t think I can like you no matter what. Not like this.’” This quote shows how their relationship can be frustrating because there is no guarantee of consistency. However, Rhiannon also shows A how much she loves him. Page 259 in the text states: “‘I’m not saying you’re any less important. You know I’m not. Right now, you are the person I love the most in the entire world.’” These two quotes show how frustrated Rhiannon is by the fact that A isn’t always there for her and never can be, but also how much she loves and cares about him regardless. 

Another example of how their relationship is complex but also admirable, is how the first thing A thinks of as soon as he wakes up is how far away from Rhiannon he is every day. The chapters start with something like, “I wake up, and I am three hours away from her,” or, “I am only two towns away from her.” This shows how A is so dedicated to being with Rhiannon, but also it exposes the complications of their relationship. Every single day, A wakes up a certain distance from his love, be it ten minutes or ten hours away, he’s still never with her, as much as he wishes he could be. Also, when he falls asleep next to her, she knows that in the morning, he will be gone, and he never knows how far away he will be. This shows that Rhiannon is A’s number one priority, but also that he can’t always be there when Rhiannon needs him.

One final example of how A and Rhiannon’s relationship is flawed, but still strong, is how A is willing to sacrifice the body’s well being in order to get to Rhiannon. At the beginning of the book, he lived the life the body would want him to live, as not to disrupt the body’s life. After all, he was just the guest. But as his relationship with Rhiannon grows stronger and more intense, A is willing to sacrifice the safety of his secret to be with Rhiannon. One example of this is when A is in the body of Nathan Daldry. A sneaks out in Nathan’s body and goes to a party just to see Rhiannon again. He can’t get back in time, so he falls asleep in Nathan’s car while driving home from the party. Afterwards, Nathan claims he was “possesed” by the devil, and people are looking for answers, meaning that A’s anonymity is in danger. But this was a risk he was willing to take to spend time with Rhiannon. Page 75 of the text states: “Poor Nathan Daldry. He is going to wake up on the side of an interstate, an hour away from his home. I can only imagine how terrified he’ll be. I am a monster for doing this to him. But I have my reason.” This shows how Rhiannon was more important than A, than the body’s well-being, even, which used to be the most important thing to him. But now, Rhiannon is his first priority and his sacrifices prove it.

All in all, these examples prove that Rhiannon and A have a complicated but extremely real and important relationship. Rhiannon overcomes her obstacles by learning to love A no matter what body he’s in, and A shows his dedication to her by trying to be there for her no matter where he is, what body he’s in, or what the dangers and sacrifices may be. They learn to love each other in an extremely unique and powerful way, and the foundation of their relationship- trust- is what holds them to one another no matter what the circumstance. They have changed each other’s lives in an inexplicable way. This book teaches me how powerful love can be, and also to never take the security of my body, life and loved ones for granted. I am lucky to wake up as myself every day.