Uglies

by

Scott Westerfeld

Ellie Character Analysis

Tally’s mother. Ellie is a middle pretty and to Tally, seems like the perfect mom. She encourages Tally to work with Special Circumstances and seems to genuinely believe that Shay is in danger. Later, as Tally learns more about pretty surgery, she begins to understand that both of her parents probably behave the way they do because that’s how they’re programmed to think: the brain lesions caused by the operation make them incurious and accepting of whatever the government says is correct.
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Ellie Character Timeline in Uglies

The timeline below shows where the character Ellie appears in Uglies. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Wipe Out
Beauty, Science, and Influence Theme Icon
Friendship and Loyalty Theme Icon
...real names. It’s nice—other than Shay, only a few teachers and Tally’s parents, Sol and Ellie, call her Tally. The girls sink into the grass and Tally starts to say that... (full context)
Ugly For Life
Conformity vs. Individuality Theme Icon
Friendship and Loyalty Theme Icon
...tears in until she gets back to her room. About an hour later, Tally’s parents, Ellie and Sol, arrive. Ellie wraps Tally in a crushing hug, making Tally feel young and... (full context)
Conformity vs. Individuality Theme Icon
Friendship and Loyalty Theme Icon
Sol and Ellie say that they heard about Shay; Sol suggests that Shay’s a lot of trouble, but... (full context)
Spagbol
The Natural World, History, and Growing Up Theme Icon
...for breaks.” She rides faster as she remembers camping at the sea with Sol and Ellie. Suddenly, Tally comes to a gap with a bridge, but the bridge doesn’t span the... (full context)
Burning Bridges
Conformity vs. Individuality Theme Icon
The Natural World, History, and Growing Up Theme Icon
Friendship and Loyalty Theme Icon
...really aren’t too different from the Rusties—they’re just more manageable. Tally remembers how Sol and Ellie seem simultaneously sure and clueless, just like how parents are supposed to be. She also... (full context)