It is all there up on the screen. Reading the Art of Up only confirms that PIXAR distilled Ellie and Carl’s love to its perfect essence. PIXAR really struggled on how to tell Ellie and Carl’s story in a small part of act one. The result really is the most outstanding piece of filmmaking I have ever had the privilege to see. I really think the “married life” segment could heve bee released as a short and it would have no less impact. Having been married for seventeen years (it really does seem like yesterday, the difference is it now takes hours to recount it all instead of minutes!) and having a story reminiscent of thiers I think I can provide some perspective.
Ellie was what was called a “free spirit” in her prime. That phrase could be a simultaneous compliment and insult. Ellie likely was told many times to “act like a lady” and other silliness. She was a product of her time, and not afraid of honest, hard work. A woman of her time would have been indoctrinated that her worth was directly proportional to the neatness and beauty of the house “she” kept. Also obvious is Ellie’s love of art, also a common trait of women born in the ninteen twenties. All people then did not have nearly the information inundation we are subjected to today, and spent a great deal more time appreciating the “mundane” beauty of the world outside thier door. All of this was reflected perfectly. Even the assisting Carl with his ties montage communicating the passage of time. How many husbands reading do thier own clothes shopping? 
Her outfits throughout the film say so much that young 'uns likely will not get. As far as the problem having children goes, in the forties and fifties, up until about the mid eighties actually, the loss of a child was one of the “fates worse than death” for a woman in social circles. It still carries a stigma of “damaged goods” even today. Ellie had love to spare however. The previous analysis of the source of Ellie’s outgoing personality coming from being one among many is spot on I think, My wife and her three sisters are extroverts in thier own way, but I certainly got the Ellie of the bunch!
Carl by contrast, was the classic proto-nerd. Not only introverted, but full of wrong ideas about the world as learned from classic adventure stories instead of the schoolyard, actively discouraged from adventure by an over protective mother but craving it as much or more than other boys. He too is a product of his time, but with a gentle soul that would never embrace the callousness expected of men toward women in his prime. Besides, Ellie would kick his butt! I feel for how hard it must have been for Carl to watch Ellie’s spark that burned like the sun on most days dim on those days of helplessness where all he could do was watch, and finally go out. I have not experienced the latter yet, and hope to the Gods not to for many years, but like Buzz said; “It can’t last forever.” My only hope is that the end is without pain and that if someone needs to be alone for a bit, it is me. Men like to “fix” things. Men generally do not do well when all you can do is what Carl did supremely well - be there. Completely. It took me many years to learn such a simple thing that is actually harder than anything to do when the person you love is hurting.
Reading the comments about how the families of Ellie and Carl might percieve the other brings back memories of my own story again. Her family had macho, outgoing guys that frankly think of me as a “wuss,” and my family is judgemental but courteous for the most part. Despite the speed with which we got married (ten weeks from met to married - eight of those I was in Boot Camp!) they got over it. I am confident that anyone who knew Ellie would have learned quickly that there would be no changing her mind, Just like my own dear wife!
cirquedunedwol, Like I said at the start of this ramble it is all up there on the screen. The “American Experience” distilled so that only the love and fierce bond remained. Life shows us all the distilled bad side of life every day, it is very seldom we get the other. Thanks PIXAR, We are eternally grateful…
