How Does 'Wonder' Handle Themes Of Kindness And Empathy?

'Wonder' is a great example of how to portray and impart kindness and empathy through the various layers of the story. The novel will never teach you how to be kind, it will immerse you in the world of Auggie. And through the eyes of his classmates (Julian especially) you will see how they come to understand that it is something that can be learned – through mistakes of course – and that it can have a huge impact on a lot of people. The way he portrayed the various perspectives of Via, Jack and Miranda amongst others is also fantastic.

I have to give a lot of credit to Auggie for being so strong. You read his story and his face may bring a tear to your eyes, but it is also very funny. There is also a quiet courage in this boy that makes you respect him. Wonder is not a story that tells you that the bullies are one-dimensional. It shows the messiness of human nature. The story also shows that being kind is not easy, especially in a society that rewards unkind behavior. As the novel progresses, you see the full depth of Jack’s conflict with wanting to be friends with Auggie, and Via’s jealousy of her brother. But the precepts of Mr. Browne’s class at Via’s school really ring true here, “Choose kind.” It is a tool to navigate our often unkind world.

One of my favorite things about Wonder is that kindness is something you can build up like a muscle. We don’t read Auggie’s story as one that others can until they have connected with him in some meaningful way. Summer, for instance, doesn’t sit with Auggie because he needs to be sat with, she sits with him because she’s interested in him. And what naturally develops from there is a friendship.

And a perfect ending is avoided in the novel too. But even though some kids still whisper by the end of the novel, Auggie’s speech at his graduation makes a point that will change their lives for good: “You can’t blend in when you were born to stand out”. The novels’ harsh depiction of pain makes the ensuing kindness seem so much more real and even more powerful as a result of it having been won.

'Wonder' shows the absence of empathy at first and then the gradual growth of it through a series of small positive moments with Jack, Summer and others, including Miranda’s belated apology. The book is good because it shows kindness is not always rewarded but is worth it. Auggie’s family is good too, in that their love for each other is not perfect. His dad’s jokes hide his fear and his mum’s over-protectiveness is smothering at times, but they both love him relentlessly. The book shows that empathy is not always pretty but it is necessary.

My biggest take away from Wonder was that kindness is something that we can choose to do every day. Auggie’s parents are kind in so many ways including trying to find a good balance between protecting their son and allowing him to be in the world. Via, Auggie’s sister, feels invisible for most of the story but by the end of the book she has grown and become able to understand the pain of others which I thought was a really beautiful thing. Even a waiter at a restaurant where Auggie and his family eat at one time compliments Auggie’s helmet. It shows that there are so many tiny ways that kindness can build a bridge between people.

In reality, some children may never even apologize for the way that they treat someone with disabilities. But a character such as Jack Will, punches the character Julian after he began to insult Auggee. Flawed, but mighty. The Wonder story line does not portray Julian Willke as a villainous character. Instead, Julian’s cruel behavior can be attributed to his mother. However, it is also possible that Julian needs adults to model the behavior of kindness and that in turn will allow him to be kind to others who have disabilities.