Rites of passage are a key element of adolescent literature. These are moments in which the character(s) do something in which they essentially cross over the realm of adolescence into adulthood in some aspect. They are extremely common throughout the genre and hold a special place in the books for the characters and readers. There are several rites of passage in the novel Eleanor and Park. What makes these particular moments in the novel so special and important is that they truly transform the character who goes through these rites of passage. An example of one of these moments is the fight between Parker and Steve. Many would argue that this is simply a moment that can bring about a transformation in Parker, but is not important to the novel as a whole. The fact is that this moment is crucial, not only for Parker, but for the entire novel. Without this defining moment in Park's life, many other rites of passage may never have occurred and his relationship with Eleanor may never have reached what it became by the end of the novel. The fight between Park and Steve is the catalyst that fundamentally transforms Park as a character and a person, and sets the stage for other rites of passage throughout the novel. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay This fight that occurs between Park and Steve is one of the first moments that can be considered a “rite of passage” . While this may only seem like a "boys are boys" moment, it's actually a moment that helps define Park for the rest of the novel. More about this moment in the novel, Eleanor and Park began to become more and more intimate, and on this day, Steve, Park's pseudo "friend" and Eleanor's bully, begins a chant on the bus making fun of Eleanor's hair, weight and personality. pretty much anything a bully would tend to joke about. Park is clearly enraged by this and once he gets off the bus, he intends to fight Steve. This escalates to the point where Park kicks Steve in the face, knocking him out of a tooth (Rowell 130-131). Again, many would say this is a rite of passage, but not as important as others as it is simply a struggle. The difference between this rite of passage and the typical "boy gets into a fight" rite of passage is that it shows a clear transition in Park who wasn't there before the fight. Park wasn't technically harassed during this time in the novel, but Park implies that it's only because he kept a low profile and befriended Steve and Tina. Fighting with Steve shows that he has become willing to stand up for what he loves or what he believes in, even if it involves punches. To explain why this moment is so important in the novel, we must deepen this analysis. rite of passage to see how he defines Park and the story for the rest of the novel. The first being that this moment clearly transforms Park as a person and adds more depth to his character. Before this fight, Park is a shy boy who only succeeds by floating under the radar and not making waves. This changes after the fight, as Park transforms into someone who isn't afraid to stand out. This is proven when he says, "The fight had changed something on the bus... Maybe it was because he stood up to Steve." » (Rowell 139). His fight with Steve shows that he has the courage to be himself. This leads to further rites of passage, when Park fights back. One such moment is when Park wants to wear makeup to school. At the moment he.