Eleven is a powerful and unique character within the Stranger Things universe. As soon as her story, with all its mystery and tragedy, was introduced to viewers, they fell in love with her. Every chapter of the story revealed something new and engrossing about the character, layering her past and her present in slow anticipation.
Throughout the series, Eleven found family, acceptance, and friendship. But despite all her joy, all the love she received, Eleven continued to experience exceptionally difficult circumstances.
She Lost Hopper
Hopper and Eleven's father-daughter relationship was a healing balm to them both. The life they had built together was unique. They had grown incredibly close, filling the holes left by their pasts and choosing each other as family. "I left some Eggos out in the woods, and you came into my life and for the first time in a long time, I started to feel things again. I started to feel happy."
Hopper had been there for Eleven as she faced the unknown. Even when they were at odds, they tried their best to overcome their differences. When Hopper sacrificed himself to defeat the Mind Flayer, Eleven was devasted.
She Was The Subject Of Experiments
Eleven was unique, and her psychic powers were incredible. Because of this, she was desired as a test subject by the Hawkins National Laboratory. Eleven had no control over her conditions. Her abilities were monitored; testing her endurance, the extent of her powers, and any potential discoveries.
Regardless of her power, Eleven was still just a kid. The environment she was placed in was advantageous for those who ran it and deceitful and abusive to those inside it.
She Saved Her Friends But Lost Them
Eleven had finally found friends, people who had accepted her. She had saved them, only to seemingly disappear; having been sent to the Upside Down in the process. Her friends presumed that she was dead or gone forever, seemingly with the exception of Mike.
Eleven returned with the help of Hopper, only to have to hide away and keep a low profile. She watched as her friends went to school and became close to Max, which made her feel replaced and forgotten.
She Had To Leave Mike When The Byers Moved Away
Eleven and Mike formed a bond from the moment they met, an understanding and honest friendship. And as time passed, their bond naturally changed from one platonic to one romantic. In the third season of the series, Eleven and Mike's relationship was facing its challenges.
But the bond did not break, instead, it was pulled apart by circumstances they could not control. Hopper was gone and Eleven was taken in by the Byers. The Byers, who were leaving Hawkins and all who remained there.
The Burden Of Her Powers
Eleven's powers were a burden to her. But when she found she had lost them, that burden grew greater. Eleven had been abducted and trained. She had saved many lives and chose a path separate from her sister, Eight. Her powers took their toll on her mentally and physically.
When Eleven no longer had access to those abilities, it was a painful realization. She could not do what she once had. And the loss left an absence, a card she could no longer play but had become reliant on, and powers that seemed necessary considering the danger she was always in.
The Story Of Her Mother
Eleven was abducted and her birth was covered up. Terry Ives loved her daughter and she did everything she could to save her, she even infiltrated the facility that stole her, but her efforts left her catatonic.
When Eleven learned of her mother's existence, she discovered the truth. Her mother had been a test subject in the same laboratory Eleven had grown up in. She had unknowingly exposed Eleven to experiments, giving her child inherited and induced powers.
She Was Abducted
Eleven was taken from her mother immediately after her birth. A birth that was unrecorded. All were led to believe Terry Ives had lost her baby and there was no evidence to point otherwise. But Terry knew of the malicious people in her life, those who wanted her child, and she knew Eleven had been taken.
In the end, Eleven grew up as an experiment. Her childhood was one of extreme exertion and educational and emotional neglect.
She Was Deprived Of Friendship & Social Interactions
Eleven was isolated from the world. She had no friends and no guidance. Eleven's associations with the outside world were nonexistent. When Eleven was exposed to the town of Hawkins, she was lost and confused.
It was new, unexplored, unfamiliar territory. Eleven hadn't been nurtured in her childhood and she wasn't allowed to grow in a safe environment. Her education was of no importance and her interactions were restricted, so she never really learned how to exist in the real world and she never even got to have friends before she escaped the lab.
She Wasn't Trusted
Eleven was found by the Party during their search for Will. Her appearance and circumstances were of odd timing and suspicious coincidence.
Mike was the first to accept her appearance, wanting to be of help and wanting to understand her situation. But Lucas and Dustin were not as trusting. They were wary of her intent and her origins. Harsh words were exchanged and tension arose in the members of the group before they really befriended her.
Constantly In Danger
From the moment Eleven escaped the Laboratory, she had been dodging danger, facing it head-on, and coming to terms with her role in fighting the Upside Down.
She placed herself in-between the monsters and her friends. She sacrificed her life and pushed her powers to their limit. She had seen devastation and death and experienced the grief of others. And every time the threat seemed to have been defeated, it returned stronger than before.