American History Critical Analysis essay help service Education homework help

History Critical Analysis In the story “American History” the character Elena seems to be very studious and an innocent girl but deep down she is very insecure and ashamed of various aspects in her life. Her character traits seem to constantly relate back to the embarrassment she feels of herself. She has plans for her future which seems to be her only worry until Eugene moves in next store. Elena is a very intelligent young girl and a hard worker when it comes to her school and education. Although her grades are high, she still cannot be placed in honors classes because English isn’t her first language. Eugene was in honors classes for all his subjects, classes that were not open to me because English was not my first language, though I was a straight A student” (Cofer 34). Elena has a hidden longing to excel in school and better herself with her classes and education. This is very important to her because she wants to be successful so that she can eventually leave El Building. But since she cannot due to her culture and language, it holds her back from doing her best to strive for the goals and high standards that she has set for herself.

Elena is not very expressive she seems to keep to herself often and not show her inner emotions as easily as some do when they open themselves up publicly. Elena expresses her insecurities in a concealed way, she doesn’t seek for attention or compliments to help feel better about herself. “I hated my skinny flat chested body, and I envied the black girls who could jump rope so fast that their legs became a blur” (33). Elena has a low self esteem especially with her appearance and capabilities to achieve, she has a lack of confidence which leads her to be very self judging.

Most of Elena’s time was spent either at school or in her room of El Building. Elena had a fire escape in her room which was right above her neighbors house. “I had a view of their kitchen and their backyard, and though I could not hear what they said, I knew when they were arguing, when one of them was sick, and many other things” (33). She would take close notice to her neighbors and became infatuated with the way that they lived. “I could see his place from my window in El Building. In fact, if I sat on the fire escape I was literally suspended above Eugene’s backyard” (33).

Elena felt like she became part of their family without them knowing, she would watch them and feel this way because she does want to live in a “normal” home, like her neighbors do. She doesn’t specifically say she wishes to be or live like them but her fascination shows her secretly wanted life style that she cannot have. The way she lives, in El Building isn’t the same as living in a private and quiet house. Elena has too much pride for her family to ever actually share her slight embarrassment towards the fact that she lives in El Building. Elena not only is embarrassed but also ashamed of herself and where she lives.

El Building wasn’t the prettiest sight according to Elena, “I thrust my books out a silly gesture that embarrassed me almost immediately. ” “You live there? ; She pointed to El Building which looked particularly ugly, like a gray prison with its dirty windows and rusty fire escapes” (38). She doesn’t necessarily have to say that she doesn’t like living in El building she just hints toward her disliking for it. “The light through the large kitchen window of his house told me that El Building blocked the sun to such an extent that they had to turn lights on in the middle of the day. I felt ashamed about it. She even says that she doesn’t plan to stay in El Building, “As for me, I was going to go to college and become a teacher” (35). She’s got her mind set on getting out of El Building to somewhere that fits her standards, which is why she wants to succeed. Once Elena is on her own, doing what she enjoys, in her home of choice, it could potentially be more satisfying for herself. Elena should feel more accomplished rather than ashamed or embarrassed when that time comes. Elena’s insecurities do get the best of her which makes her more of a pessimist later in the story. “I was ready to for rejection, snobbery, the worst” (34).

She always seems to think the worst of situations because of her insecurities and self judgement. She has become quite use to being made fun of by the other girls in her school. Therefor, when meeting Eugene she expected the same treatment from Eugene. Elena’s low self esteem issues play a part in how she expects to be treated by others. It’s a given that she is embarrassed of herself, so when people as nice as Eugene come along she was surprised by his kindness because it’s not something she is use to. Elena is envious of some of the other girls in her school who are capable of doing things that she is not, such as jump rope. I envied the black girls who could jump rope so fast that their legs became a blur” (33). She wished to be more like these girls because she is too insecure about herself and her body. Since she cares what these girls think of her, when they make fun of her for not being able to do what they do, she is hurt and probably feels worse about herself.

Elena starts to lower her self esteem when hurtful things are said to her because she’s embarrassed of herself and inability to do things that others can. Elena’s innocence is shown all throughout the story. She is a very sensitive girls who’s feelings are easily hurt. I felt burning on my cheeks and then my glasses fogged up so that I could not manage to coordinate the jump rope with Gail. ” She lets minor things get to her and make her emotional. “But the tears that came up from a deep place inside me were strictly for me” (38) Elena however is not emotional for the death of her president but for the embarrassing encounter she went through with Eugene’s mother. When Elena is put it in a bad personal situation she becomes maudlin. Elena is too young and immature to understand the importance of the death of her president, but she doesn’t know any better because of her age.

At this point she could only be emotional over her own personal issues. “Though I wanted to feel the right way about President Kennedy’s death, I could not fight the feeling of elation that stirred in my chest” (37). She doesn’t know the difference between what should be considered important and what should not because her embarrassment towards many different things doesn’t give her a clear outlook as to what she really should be worried about when she is worrying in her head, about her personal self. Hence, Elena is a brilliant young girl with hidden insecurities that get the