Self-Awareness in Wide Wide World

I must admit that I am starting to enjoy “Wide Wide World “ a bit more. Not for the action, and thrill, but more for the character development and dynamics between one another. As I continued reading Wide Wide World, I was more and more impressed with Ellen’s overall self-awareness and sensibility, especially for someone that young. Again, one can argue that one isn’t mature through age, but rather, through experience, but her development and analysis she has of other characters is regardless impressive. One chapter that really moved by was when Ellen was still sick her bed, and Nancy comes by to check up on her. It is clear that Ellen doesn’t fancy this girl, nor can she relate to her. Instead, Ellen would rather spend the afternoon with older, gentler people (i.e. Alice and Mr. Humphrey). Nancy without any much thought barges into Ellen’s door and imposes her presence on the poorly sick girl. Ellen tries to remain calm and not flustered with the annoying girl. It is however when Nancy begins to sneak around into Ellen’s chest full of neatly folded clothes, and Ellen becomes more anxious when Nancy discovers her drawing desk. Ellen, who is too sick to actually move up, gathers all her strength to stop Nancy from snooping around. When she opens the closet door to find that Nancy had gotten into the pens and different colored inks and the bible (all sacred objects for Ellen, since they were a parting gift from her darling mother) I found myself being a bit moved by how hurt and angry Ellen was by Nancy carelessness.
Again, Ellen is fairly remarkable for her age because of her keen sense of boundaries. Throughout several scenes, Ellen keeps her composure in several uncomfortable situations (mostly, with Ms. Fortune) and really respects other peoples’ boundaries. Ellen is very sensitive on whether or not she’s invading other people’s personal space. Yet, she also expects others to do the same. Nancy is fairly oblivious to personal boundaries and isn’t sensitive to the wishes of others. This seems to be the biggest issue that Ellen has with Nancy, and Ellen firmly shows her distaste with what Nancy has done. Sensitivity is perhaps the one thing that Ellen has charms the reader, above all else. She tries not to impose herself and respect the others around her, and has the maturity to expect the same for other, which rarely is the case.
As the chapters continue, I found myself being a bit frustrated with the lack of sincere emotions between Ms. Fortune and Ellen. Along with Ms. Fortune, I felt annoyed with house Alice was becoming when she manifested that she wished to be Ellen’s older sister. Mostly because of how preachy the speech was and emphasized once again on Ellen’s need to be open and believe in her God or else she would never find happiness. I felt that this speech was a bit too repetitive from the other words from the kind stranger she met at the party earlier on, or even the speech her mother gave her about opening herself up to God before she left her child to go to Europe. I find that I have more tolerance for Ellen than all of the other characters in Wide Wide World.