Ellen Outside the Lines

Gaudi and the city of Barcelona are part of an interweaving motif that enhances the story’s setting while developing the plot and promoting the author’s overall thematic focus on Embracing Self-Discovery and Freedom of Expression. Antoni Gaudi was an architect who challenged the conventions and expectations of his day to create buildings that he saw as beautiful and unique. He was also unafraid to express his true identity, and for this reason, Ellen comes to admire his wisdom. She believes that the buildings that Gaudi designed are beautiful but different; like Ellen herself, they are misunderstood at first but admired upon closer inspection. On the scavenger hunt, Ellen’s team visits several locations designed by Gaudi, as well as other parts of Barcelona that are steeped in a rich history. At one point, they ride a cable car up to a military fort and overlook the whole city, and the landscape that expands before them echoes the metaphorical broadening of their inner horizons. Ultimately, the city’s treasures and challenges force Ellen to grow, and the city itself creates an environment that allows her to explore new aspects of herself. Ellen also comes to appreciate the surprises that life has to offer rather than fearing them.