El Deafo

The bathing suit is indicative of Cece’s personality, particularly as a young girl. She wears this exclusively as a child, and it defines her unique style and the confidence that she has before she loses her hearing. The bathing suit is a symbol of Cece’s confidence; it reflects her inner self.

The bathing suit is pink with polka dots and speaks to Cece’s enthusiasm and passion as a person. However, Cece loses that part of herself as a little girl, when she loses her hearing. She must wear different clothes to cover her hearing aids, and this change in attire speaks to the change that she feels she must undergo emotionally to fit in with her peers. Rather than embracing her unique self, Cece begins to feel shame for the first time. The loss of her bathing suit is symbolic of her loss of self-confidence, as she struggles to fit in. 

The Phonic Ear is a complicated symbol in the story, and Cece’s relationship to it changes over the course of the book. The Phonic Ear becomes a symbol of Cece’s disability and her feelings about her disability.

As the story begins, Cece is ashamed by the Phonic Ear. She feels it is a burden and that it alienates her from other children. It feels physically heavy under her clothes, and she bears the weight of it in the same way that she bears the metaphorical weight of her difference.

Despite her initial feelings of distaste, Cece soon comes to embrace the powers her Phonic Ear gives her. She develops the character of El Deafo, who uses the Phonic Ear as a superpower. Though El Deafo embraces the Phonic Ears powers, Cece is still ashamed to speak about her abilities with her peers, for fear of alienation. Cece begins to feel self-acceptance but is afraid to share that confidence with her peers.

At the end of the novel, Cece embraces the Phonic Ear as a symbol of what makes her unique. The Phonic Ear, and by association her hearing impairment, are no longer shameful but admirable. Cece’s feelings about her disability are no longer feelings of embarrassment but feelings of pride.