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August: Understudy
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
August tells the reader that the play was amazing, and the ending made everyone cry. Via was even crying at the end. August stood up with the audience to applaud, and Dad explained that this is called a standing ovation. August thinks that Via and Justin must feel so happy, and thinks that everyone should get a standing ovation once in their lives. Finally, the lights go up and the audience makes its way out. Mom, August, and Dad spot Via and Justin and they all congratulate them. Via explains that Miranda got sick right before the show started. Nobody hears August ask if Miranda's okay.
It's telling that August decides everyone (presumably, this includes him) should get a standing ovation—it suggests that August is becoming more comfortable being in front of people in public if he implies that he'd like to receive one someday. August also demonstrates how kind he is when he asks to make sure Miranda is okay and is the only one to do so.
Themes
Mr. Davenport comes over, and Via introduces him to Mom, Dad, and August. Justin pulls Mr. Davenport away before he can look too embarrassed at his reaction to August. August finds himself in a crowd of people and isn't sure where his parents went. He starts to feel dizzy and the noise hurts his ears. He yells for Mom and tries to push his way through the crowd. Suddenly, a familiar voice greets August and picks him up from behind. It belongs to Miranda.
When Justin leads Mr. Davenport away, it suggests that Justin is ready to join Via in taking care of August and rescuing him from possibly uncomfortable situations. This continues to illustrate Justin’s kindness and how strongly he believes in caring for others who are younger and less powerful than he is.
Themes
