49 pages • 1 hour read
The Elephant In The Room
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Themes
Overcoming Isolation Through Family and Community Bonds
In The Elephant in the Room, Holly Goldberg Sloan explores the theme of overcoming isolation through the interconnected experiences of the characters. Each character grapples with various forms of isolation, whether self-imposed or imposed by external circumstances, and ultimately finds comfort and strength through the bonds of family and community.
The narrative begins with Gio Gardino, whose self-imposed isolation following the loss of his wife, Lillian, is tangible. Gio's withdrawal from society is symbolized by the walls of his farm, which serve as barriers between himself and the outside world. However, when Gio meets Sila, a young girl grappling with her own grief, he finds renewed purpose in helping her overcome her struggles. Through his connection with Sila and his decision to purchase Veda, an elephant needing rescue, Gio begins to break free from his isolation and form meaningful connections with those around him. Gio wants to help Sila overcome her grief as he cannot resolve his own grief, which leads him to buy Veda:
He would never forget the look on Sila's face as she stared at the elephant […] Suddenly something shifted inside him and he felt a kind of steadiness take hold that had been missing since Lillian died. Maybe his whole life had led to this. A man with not much to do but a ton of money meets an elephant that has been riding around in a truck for years. Trapped. Alone. Wasn't this a perfect match? (48)
Gio's transformation highlights the transformative power of community. He gradually builds a network of friends and coworkers who offer him support and companionship. Through acts of kindness and empathy, Gio learns to navigate his grief and find comfort in the company of others, demonstrating the healing potential of human connection. Instead of being "in a hole that can appear when a person doesn't feel needed" (34), Gio finds comfort in caring for those around him. As the narrator notes, "In difficult times, thinking about the past could be a savior for him. But since Sila and Mateo and Veda were in his life, he could also find comfort in the future. It belonged to them" (206). Through connecting with others, Gio can finally embrace the future, reflecting the extent of his character development.
Similarly, Sila's and Mateo’s journeys underscore the importance of family and community in overcoming isolation. When her mother, Oya, is forced to return to Turkey, Sila experiences profound loneliness and withdrawal. However, through the unwavering support of her father, Alp, and the kindness of individuals like Gio and Mateo, Sila learns to navigate her grief and find solace in the bonds of family and friendship. Similarly, Mateo's autism presents challenges in social interactions, often making him feel isolated from his peers. In response to the school's attempts to "fix" Mateo's behavior, he retreats into himself, becoming increasingly withdrawn. Sila recognizes the importance of accepting Mateo for who he is and sees beyond his silence to the kindness within him. Instead of expecting Mateo to conform to societal norms, Sila embraces his uniqueness and includes him in her community. In return, Mateo contributes his insights and ideas, ultimately benefiting the entire community by identifying opportunities for innovation and growth, such as addressing Veda's waste management. Through their friendship, Mateo finds acceptance and belonging, highlighting the transformative power of empathy and inclusion within a supportive community.
The Elephant in the Room portrays the transformative power of family and community in overcoming isolation and navigating life's challenges. Through its characters' experiences, the novel emphasizes the importance of empathy, compassion, and mutual support in fostering meaningful connections and finding strength in times of adversity.
The Role of Empathy in Cultivating Relationships
In The Elephant in the Room, empathy and understanding emerge as central themes, permeating the narrative and driving character development. Through the characters' experiences, author Holly Goldberg Sloan explores the power of empathy and understanding in cultivating genuine connections and promoting personal growth.
One of the most prominent examples of empathy is the relationship between Sila Tekin and the elephant, Veda. Sila, grappling with her mother's absence and her feelings of guilt and isolation, forms a deep bond with Veda, who shares Sila's sense of displacement and longing for familial connection. Despite their outward differences, Sila and Veda find solace in each other's company, demonstrating an innate understanding that transcends barriers of species. Sila recognizes that Veda needs her mother or another member of her herd, much like Sila needs her mother. Sila dedicates her free time to finding Veda's mother, which eventually leads to their reunion. Sila's ability to empathize with Veda's plight reflects her capacity for compassion and highlights the importance of recognizing and validating the emotions of others, regardless of species.
Similarly, Gio Gardino's interactions with Sila and Veda underscore the significance of empathy in fostering meaningful relationships. Initially withdrawn and grieving the loss of his wife, Gio finds renewed purpose and connection through his interactions with Sila and his decision to care for Veda. Through acts of kindness and understanding, Gio demonstrates empathy toward Sila's struggles and Veda's need for companionship, ultimately experiencing personal growth and healing. Despite her endless eating and following him around like a duckling, Gio is patient with Veda: "Gio knew he'd made the right decision when he'd bought Veda. Because he knew at that moment that he already loved her" (86). Gio even gives Sila one of Lillian's binders to provide Sila some solace on Oya's birthday, although it isn’t “easy to let go of anything that had been so connected to his wife" (205). Gio places Sila's needs above his own. In providing Sila comfort, he finds comfort himself. Gio's willingness to empathize with others' experiences allows him to break free from his own emotional isolation and rediscover a sense of belonging within his community.
Furthermore, the relationship between Sila and Mateo provides another example of empathy in action. As a child with autism, Mateo faces challenges in social interaction and communication, often feeling misunderstood and isolated from his peers. Mateo goes from a child who talks all the time to one who never talks at all. Sila realizes that classmates, including her, ignore Mateo. Gradually, Sila makes more of an effort to notice Mateo. When she invites Mateo to meet Veda, she immediately regrets it, scared of how Mateo will act: "Sila felt embarrassed for him. But then she realized there weren't other kids around to make fun of his clothing. And from what she'd seen, a person couldn't easily upset Mateo even if they wanted to. He went through life his own way" (129). As their relationship progresses, Sila becomes more comfortable with Mateo, realizing how best to communicate with him. Sila's empathetic approach toward Mateo's differences allows their friendship to flourish, highlighting the importance of acceptance and understanding in fostering genuine connections. Rather than expecting Mateo to conform to societal norms, Sila embraces his unique perspective and creates a safe space for him to express himself authentically. In doing so, she not only enriches Mateo's life but also cultivates a deeper sense of empathy and compassion within herself.
Throughout the novel, empathy fosters personal growth and positive changes, transforming the characters' lives and strengthening their bonds with one another. By embracing empathy and understanding, individuals in the novel bridge the divides that separate them, forging connections based on mutual respect and compassion. Through their shared experiences and acts of empathy, Sila, Gio, Mateo, and the other characters in The Elephant in the Room discover the strength of human connection, demonstrating that true understanding begins with empathy.
Solidarity and Advocacy in the Face of Injustice
Examples of prejudice and injustice occur throughout The Elephant in the Room, underscoring the challenges faced by the characters as they navigate a world marked by discrimination and inequality. Through their experiences, author Holly Goldberg Sloan sheds light on the harmful effects of prejudice and the importance of standing up against injustice.
One of the central examples of injustice occurs when Oya Tekin experiences prejudice in her workplace. First, she notices that her employer pays male employees more than female employees for the same work. Rather than resolving this inequality, the hotel fires Oya and reports her to immigration in an attempt to get her deported. Beyond the injustice of these acts, they demonstrate a profound prejudice against both women and immigrants that leads to misery for the Tekin family. Despite the life-altering effects of the injustice Oya faces, her family and community remain resilient and committed to advocating for her. After understanding the Tekins' situation, Rosa Lopez works tirelessly through the legal system to right the injustice. Eventually, Oya returns to the US and finds vindication in a lawsuit against the hotel, highlighting the importance of advocacy in the face of injustice.
Mateo Lopez, a child with autism, confronts prejudice and misunderstanding from his peers and teachers alike. This prejudice initially causes him to retreat into himself so as to not draw attention:
He read his books and worked to not flap his hands or do something that might cause a disruption. Isn't that what they wanted from him? To make things easier for the other kids? Mateo had feelings and thoughts and ideas about everything. In the past he had found that they were often ignored or treated as meaningless by people who didn't understand how he expressed himself (178).
The school essentially stripped Mateo of his voice in their efforts to make Mateo fit better in the classroom setting. Despite his intelligence and creativity, Mateo is marginalized and overlooked due to his differences, facing isolation and exclusion in social settings. His experiences highlight the harmful impact of ableism and the need for greater awareness and acceptance of neurodiversity within society. While Sila initially ignores Mateo, she grows to become a strong advocate for him as their friendship grows. Sila's empathy and kindness forge a connection with Mateo, allowing him to be himself without judgment. Sila also benefits deeply from their newfound friendship thanks to Mateo’s creativity and kindness, underscoring the mutually beneficial nature of solidarity and advocacy.
Furthermore, the mistreatment of animals, particularly Veda the elephant and Mr. Pickles the bear, serves as a metaphor for the broader themes of prejudice and injustice in the novel. Both Veda and Mr. Pickles endure exploitation and abuse at the hands of their human captors, subjected to cruel training methods and deprived of their natural habitats. Their suffering is a commentary on the cruelty and injustice of captivity, highlighting the need for greater compassion and empathy toward all living beings. This compassion is highlighted when Gio rescues Veda and Mr. Pickles from their unjust treatment in the circus. Gio makes a comfortable home for Veda and finds a safe, appropriate placement for Mr. Pickles.
Throughout The Elephant in the Room, characters grapple with the consequences of prejudice and injustice, confronting systemic barriers and personal biases that threaten to divide them. However, their resilience and solidarity challenge the status quo and work toward a more just and equitable world. By standing up against prejudice and advocating for equality, the characters of The Elephant in the Room demonstrate the power of resistance and solidarity in the face of injustice.
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By Holly Goldberg Sloan
