What does Ng reveal about Elena Richardson in this extract? How is this effective?

Consider this as you write your response: The city, with its “rule-oriented wholesome progressivism”, had a strong sense of its own virtue and purpose. Elena Richardson is, in this sense, “the human embodiment” of Shaker Heights.

 

Ng reveals many of Elena Richardson’s personality traits and morals in this extract. Firstly, Ng reveals how the way Elena was brought up has impacted her development as a person today. She was brought up accompanying her parents to charity events, fundraisers and donating to the Humane Society, and carries this need for charitability inside her. However, through the way Ng describes her, one cannot help but feel that this charitability is based off a need for self-satisfaction, and maintaining a certain image she strives to keep. This is why she is in many ways ‘ the human embodiment ‘ of Shaker Heights, as she has this need to maintain the image of someone who is socially inclusive, charitable, fair and equal, but does this in a way meant to boost her status and image so that more people trust and interact with her. Another way she is much like the human embodiment of Shaker Heights is that while she is all of those qualities in her ‘professional’ or ‘social’ identity, just like Shaker has many policies promoting racial equity, she is different when it comes to her own personal opinion, and is also subject to prejudice, just like people of Shakers community are such as teachers.