Eloise's Life
Where does Eloise live?
The Plaza Hotel in New York City.
What do you think was a common after-school activity for children in the 1950s?
Children in the 1950s often played outside, engaged in games like tag, hide and seek, or played with toys such as jump ropes.
What was the common expectation for women’s roles in the 1950s?
Women were expected to be wives and mothers. They were supposed to manage the household and raise children.
What does Eloise’s family’s wealth allow her to experience in New York City?
Eloise’s wealth allows her to live in the luxurious Plaza Hotel and have access to expensive activities and things.
How did World War II affect family dynamics in the 1950s?
Men had to go off to fight, and women had to enter the workforce in large numbers.
In Eloise, what is Eloise’s relationship with her mother?
Eloise’s mother is often absent, and Eloise spends most of her time with the hotel staff, especially the Nanny.
What kind of games did girls typically play in the 1950s?
Girls often played with dolls, tea sets, or engaged in domestic play, mimicking housework or motherhood.
How were men expected to behave in the 1950s?
Men were seen as the heads of the household and expected to support their families by working in ventures outside the home.
How does Eloise's lifestyle in the Plaza Hotel reflect the class divisions of 1950s America?
Eloise’s life represents the elite, upper-class experience of the 1950s. She treats Nanny as a servant and experiences luxury and privilege that most children could not even imagine during this time.
How might Eloise’s life in the Plaza Hotel reflect the general societal shift that occurred in the 1950s after World War II?
Eloise’s life reflects the economic boom and consumerism of the post-WWII era. The wealthy had access to more luxury goods and leisure.
How does Eloise challenge the typical expectations of a young girl in the 1950s?
Eloise is independent, curious, and often sneaky. She challenges traditional gender roles by refusing to behave like a typical "well-mannered" girl of her time.
How did children in the 1950s typically spend their time compared to children today?
In the 1950s, children often spent more time outside playing, less time with technology, and were expected to follow stricter rules in terms of behavior.
In Eloise, how does Eloise's mother reflect the gender roles of the 1950s, and what impact does her behavior have on Eloise’s understanding of femininity?
Eloise's mother is often absent and preoccupied with other things within her social realm. She displays a nontraditional parenting style which contributes to Eloise's improper behavior.
How does Eloise’s naive perspective on her privileged lifestyle reflect the broader class divide in 1950s America?
Eloise’s carefree attitude, shaped by her privileged life at the Plaza Hotel, shields her from the realities of lower-class struggles, preventing her from understanding the wealth divide in 1950s America.
How did the post-war generation of children, like Eloise, experience a different childhood compared to those who lived through the war?
Children became very independent and lacked emotional connection with their parents postwar, which is directly displayed through Eloise's character and family life.