Ell Character Analysis: Greta's Scottish Girlfriend in Greta & Valdin

Overview

Ell—Elizabeth Alexandra Livingstone—enters Greta & Valdin as a minor figure in the novel's opening character list, identified simply as a PhD student at the university. Over the course of the novel she becomes Greta's girlfriend and one of the most stabilizing presences in Greta's life. She is Scottish, having moved from Edinburgh eight years before the novel's present, and studies nitrogen signalling in plants under the supervision of Erik, a colleague of Greta's father Linsh. Her full name is revealed on her first date with Greta, but she asks never to be called by it.

Ell is notable for her confidence, her directness, and her willingness to act decisively—most dramatically when she hits Holly over the head with a can of oven cleaner after overhearing Holly confront Greta. She is also defined by a quiet estrangement from her own parents, who refuse to speak to her. The novel presents her as a grounding, practical presence who nonetheless has a playful, absurd sense of humour.

Plot Role

Ell's role in the plot is primarily as Greta's romantic partner, but she functions as more than a love interest. She appears at key moments to support Greta, to integrate into the Vladisavljevic family, and to model a kind of direct emotional honesty that Greta is still learning. Her most significant plot action is defending Greta from Holly's confrontation, which effectively ends Holly's attempts to re-engage with Greta.

Ell also serves as a bridge between Greta's world and the scientific world of her father. She is a colleague of Erik, Linsh's colleague, and her presence at the Friday drinks with her science comrades gives the reader a view of Linsh as seen by his professional peers. Her relationship with Greta connects to the novel's broader exploration of queer love and commitment.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Ell's motivations are shown primarily through her actions rather than through extensive interior monologue. The novel gives her one first-person chapter near the end, but for most of the book she is seen through Greta's eyes.

Protectiveness. When Ell overhears Holly confronting Greta in the photocopying room, she appears with a can of oven cleaner and hits Holly over the head with it. In the aftermath, she tells Greta, I just hit someone over the head with a bloody can of oven cleaner and temporarily became a fugitive from the law because I love you so much. This is both a comic moment and a serious demonstration of her willingness to act on Greta's behalf.

Caring and practical competence. When Casper needs someone to stay with his sick daughter Freya, Ell volunteers without hesitation. She later cooks dinner for the family, which Casper had forgotten about. These actions show a person who is comfortable stepping into practical roles and who cares for the people around her.

Directness about feelings. Ell asks Greta to tell her when things go wrong: Greta, I want you to tell me the next time you feel like everything's gone wrong. She has noticed that Greta hasn't been eating properly and is up at all hours, and she wants Greta to come to her first rather than hearing about it from others. This connects to the novel's theme of communication and emotional vulnerability.

Humour and playfulness. Her marrow story at the wedding—about losing a prize-winning marrow (a large vegetable) at a school fête—is absurd and self-deprecating, and she uses it as a way to propose a summer trip to Rakiura (Stewart Island). She tells Greta, I have you. Yer the marrow.

Resilience in the face of family rejection. Ell's parents refuse to speak to her. This is mentioned briefly in chapter 25, when V notes Ell's changes, including cutting her hair and her parents' refusal to speak to her. Ell doesn't dwell on this; she has built a life for herself in New Zealand. This estrangement parallels the novel's broader interest in family secrets and hidden histories.

Chronological Arc

Ell's arc in the novel moves from anonymous date to committed partner.

Meeting. Greta meets Ell at a party in chapter 12, where she encounters a girl with a dark bob and freckles looking for a bottle opener. Greta asks for her phone number, declining Instagram or LinkedIn, and the girl writes her number up Greta's arm with a Sharpie.

First date. In chapter 16, they meet at Kiwi Music Bar. Ell pays after learning Greta is a university tutor. She is a biology PhD student studying nitrogen signalling in plants and recognizes Greta's father Linsh through his intranet pronunciation guide. She reveals her name—Elizabeth Alexandra Livingstone—but asks never to be called that. They kiss outside the theatre, and Greta invites her home.

Second date and early relationship. In chapter 18, Greta tells her friends about their second date, during which they were intimate when V came home early, shouting in Russian. Greta yelled at him to leave, and Ell misunderstood and left. Greta plans to see her again.

Meeting the family. In chapter 19, Greta brings Ell to a family dinner. Linsh's behaviour is theatrical—he storms off over the Rumbo argument—but Ell handles it well. Linsh later apologizes and invites them to lunch.

Integration. In chapter 24, Ell helps at Casper's house, staying with Freya and cooking dinner. In chapter 26, she introduces Greta as her girlfriend at Friday drinks with her science colleagues.

Crisis and defense. In chapter 38, Holly confronts Greta in the photocopying room. Ell appears, overhears, and hits Holly with the oven cleaner. In chapter 40, they reconcile, with Ell asking Greta to be more open with her.

Commitment. In chapter 49, Ell's first-person chapter, she is at a wedding, telling everyone Greta is her girlfriend. She has had a successful job interview and proposes a summer trip to Rakiura with Greta.

Relationships

With Greta. Ell's relationship with Greta is the novel's central queer romance. Ell is direct where Greta is often avoidant, practical where Greta is dreamy. She asks Greta to be more open about her struggles, and Greta agrees. Their relationship is marked by mutual affection and a willingness to be silly together.

With the Vladisavljevic family. Ell integrates into Greta's family more smoothly than Greta's previous romantic interests. She volunteers to help with Freya, cooks dinner, and handles Linsh's theatrical behaviour with good humour. The family seems to accept her readily, and her presence at family events becomes natural.

With Holly. Ell's only direct interaction with Holly is the confrontation in the photocopying room, where she hits Holly with the oven cleaner. This is a decisive end to Holly's attempts to re-engage with Greta.

With her own parents. Ell's parents refuse to speak to her. The novel doesn't elaborate on the reasons, but the context—Ell's queerness, her relationship with Greta—suggests this is a rejection of her sexuality. Ell doesn't dwell on it; she has built a life in New Zealand.

Key Decisions and Consequences

Defending Greta from Holly. Ell's decision to hit Holly with the oven cleaner is the most dramatic action she takes. The consequence is that Holly's harassment of Greta ends, and Greta and Ell reconcile. It also demonstrates Ell's commitment to Greta in a way that words could not.

Asking Greta to Rakiura. Ell's proposal of a summer trip to Stewart Island is a commitment gesture. She frames it in her characteristic absurd humour—so I can watch feckin' grass grow—but the offer is serious. It represents a future together.

Being open about her identity. Ell's willingness to be openly queer, despite her parents' rejection, is a quiet but significant decision. It contrasts with Greta's own struggles with identity and belonging, and connects to the novel's exploration of cultural identity and belonging.

Theme/Symbol Connections

Queer love and commitment. Ell embodies the novel's treatment of queer love as something that can be stable and committed. Her relationship with Greta is presented as healthy and mutual, in contrast to Greta's earlier entanglement with Holly.

Communication and emotional vulnerability. Ell explicitly asks Greta to tell her when things go wrong, rather than hiding her struggles. This is a direct articulation of the novel's theme of communication.

Cultural identity and belonging. Ell is Scottish, an immigrant in New Zealand. Her monolingualism is a running joke—Greta teases her about it—but it also marks her as an outsider. She has built a life in a new country, much as Greta's family did when they came to New Zealand as refugees.

Family secrets and hidden histories. Ell's parents' refusal to speak to her is a kind of family rupture that parallels the Vladisavljevic family's own secrets. She has been cut off from her family in a way that Greta's family, for all its chaos, never is.

Five Book-Specific Questions with Direct Answers

1. What is Ell's full name, and why does she ask Greta not to use it?

Ell's full name is Elizabeth Alexandra Livingstone. She reveals it on her first date with Greta but asks never to be called by it. The novel doesn't explain why, but the request suggests she prefers the shorter, more casual Ell.

2. What does Ell study, and who is her supervisor?

Ell is a biology PhD student studying nitrogen signalling in plants. Her supervisor is Erik, a colleague of Greta's father Linsh. This connection is revealed at the family dinner in chapter 19, when Linsh asks Ell about her PhD and then asks her not to tell Erik what he just did.

3. How does Ell defend Greta against Holly?

In chapter 38, Ell overhears Holly confronting Greta in a photocopying room. Ell appears with a can of oven cleaner and hits Holly over the head with it. In the aftermath, Ell tells Greta she did it because she loves her so much.

4. What is the marrow story, and what does it lead to?

At a wedding in chapter 49, Ell tells Greta a story about losing a prize-winning marrow (a large vegetable) at a school fête as a child. She concludes that she no longer cares where the marrow went because she has Greta. The story leads to her proposal that Greta come with her to Rakiura (Stewart Island) for the summer.

5. What is the state of Ell's relationship with her own parents?

Ell's parents refuse to speak to her. This is mentioned in chapter 25, when V notes Ell's changes, including cutting her hair and her parents' refusal to speak to her. The novel doesn't elaborate on the reasons, but the context suggests it is related to her queerness.

For more on how Ell fits into the novel's larger story, see the ending explained page or browse common questions and answers.