Not only are all of these identities represented, but Rowel expertly portrays the very real problem Of internationality beјen different systems of cruelty, such as poverty and domestic abuse, or race and gender. The main conflict in Eleanor and Park is that Loaner’s step father, Archie, is verbally abusive towards her and physically abusive towards her mother. “Your stepped is looking for you,’ Tina said. ‘He’s been driving around the neighborhood all goddamn night. ‘ She stood up. ‘I’ve got to get out of here. ‘No,’ Eleanor said.

He’s going to kill me. ‘ (Rowel, 2013, Peggy to 287) This conflict reaches its absolute worst when her step father discovers that she has been sneaking out to see Park and punishes her by breaking all of the tapes Park made for her and writing sick messages all over her room. He then goes around the neighborhood looking for her, at which point Eleanor knows that she must get away from him as he will most likely turn to violence toward her. With Park’s help, she manages to flee the city and get to a safe place where her step father will never find her.As the novel progresses, it is clear that Park faces discrimination and racism from most of his peers. Park suffers a lot of bullying and discrimination despite the fact that he is semi-popular, has a comfortable home life and seems relatively “happy’. ‘What the buck does Sheridan know about gung if? ‘ Mike said. ‘Are you retarded? His mom’s Chinese.

‘ Mike looked at Park carefully. Park smiled and narrowed his eyes. ‘Yeah, I guess can see it,’ Mike said. ‘l always thought you were Mexican. ‘ ‘Sit, Mike,’ Steve said, ‘you’re such a bucking racist. ‘ ‘She’s not Chinese,’ Tina said. SSH?s Korean. (Rowel, 201 3, pug to 7) Park is also constantly feeling helpless being near his father and brother, who are both Caucasian looking and considerably taller than him.

When Park starts to wear a little bit of makeup, his father is enraged and Park assumes it’s more to do with a built up fear his father has of park being too womanlike than the single incident of makeup itself. “Park,’ she said, ‘do you.. Want to look like girl? Is that what this about? Eleanor dress like boy. You look like girl? ‘ ‘No…

‘ Park said. ‘l just like it. I like the way it feels. ‘Like girl? ‘ ‘No,’ he said.

Like myself. ” (Rowel, 201 3, Peggy) Park is aware that his race often is linked to how people observe his gender, and he is doubly burdened by his “different’ race and his behavior that isn’t consistent with ‘typical” gender customs.