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August: Via's Secret
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Wonder, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Difficulty of Kindness
Independence and Growing Up
Status and Bullying
Identity
Parenting and Guidance
Summary
Analysis
Things seem better by dinner. Dad is out, and Daisy is asleep after vomiting again, so Mom makes her an appointment to see the vet the next day. Mom, August, and Via sit down for dinner, and August asks if they're going to see Justin in the play. Mom quietly explains that the play won't be interesting for August, and Via insists that August would get bored. When Mom explains that Dad will go while she'll stay home with August, Via gets mad. August isn't sure what's going on, and neither Mom nor Via will tell him what their argument is really about.
August can probably pick up on the fact that Mom and Via are basically trying to convince him that he's not mature enough to sit through the play. However, it's also important to recognize that Mom and Via are trying to protect August from something that might hurt his feelings.
Themes
Mom makes an excuse that their argument has nothing to do with August and is shocked when August accuses her of lying. Suddenly angry, August jumps up and accuses Via of not wanting her friends to know that he's a "freak." He screams at Mom to stop treating him like he's a baby and runs to his room. He slams the door and buries himself in blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals. He can't quite figure out how he got so mad. He figures that Mom will follow soon, but she doesn't come. August pictures how guilty Mom and Via must feel and notices that a half hour has passed since he left the table. Finally, Via bursts in.
August demonstrates an awareness of others' internal thoughts that points clearly to his own growing independence. However, this passage also makes it clear that August may be becoming more mature, but he's still in a liminal state: while he yells at Mom to not treat him like a baby, he still covers himself in stuffed animals and clearly wants Mom to come in and comfort him.
Themes
