Investigation of The Main Themes in The Movie "Wonder"

Based on the movie named, “Wonder,” it can be said that there are many themes to be noticed and also discussed such as: The choice between becoming popular by lying about one’s life, over a few friends who accepts the truth about you. It was shown in a way Miranda told lies about her life to everyone she met at the camp thinking that this would make her popularity rise, she may have been popular and had many new friends, still it caused her to lose her best friend.

However, it made her realize at the end that her friendship with Via is what matters the most; same goes to Jack Will who tries to fit in with Julian and his friends but also realized that being friends with Auggie is way more important. Being insecure with someone, especially with someone who is very close to you is not a good message to receive from the movie, according to what was told from the perspective of Miranda, she lied because she thought that people would love her if she told false stories about her. Even if some people may say that lying is not all that bad, it does not mean that there is no one getting hurt by it, but in this movie the possible outcome of deceiving people is actually the ones hurting them. The portrayal of this theme was clearly shown throughout the movie because it has been well explained with the help of showing the different perspectives of each character that helped viewers understand more. The second theme that can be seen in the movie is the differences between the many ways someone can look at the physical appearance of a person and who they are based on their inner beauty. Auggie was called a freak, experienced bullying and had received different criticisms from people that surrounded him, yet he did not let this get to him. In a positive outlook, it can be considered as him showing kindness by not fighting back. However, negatively, too much kindness can be abused and can bring him at a lower point where he will not stop letting bullies hurt him. Acceptance, forgiveness, and courage became his refuge to continue his life which can be considered as a positive attitude of his inner beauty. According to Henly (2017) “there’s no shame in being who you are, no matter what you look like”. Despite of his physical appearance, he still hoped that someday he will be known for something more than his unusual face.

Nevertheless, in a hopeful manner it would have been more powerful to see Auggie accept his own countenance if it was more elaborated in the movie. Instead he spent half of the film wearing an astronaut helmet out of shame. The love of the family that inspires their children to continue their lives no matter what can be deliberated as the third theme of the movie. It can be seen in the movie that the Pullman family had difficulties in Auggie’s growth and maturity. However, this did not become a hindrance to them or it did not become a reason for them to hate Auggie. On the other hand, this has served as one way to accept, and love him more. Although, Via envied her brother because she feels like her parents does not care and have time for her, she still chose to understand, comfort and love his brother despite of what she felt because she knows that her brother needs that more than she does, and doing so takes a lot of understanding and patience. In an outstanding quote, Jones (2017) states that you are going to feel like you are all alone, but you are not. In the film it can be witnessed what Auggie was feeling, the discomfort of being stared by strangers, but he was able to overcome this because he knows that there is that “family” that will never turn their backs on him. The love of the family was portrayed in the movie differently; they were a constant source of support, encouragement, and strength for Auggie despite him being a unique child. However, Wonder missed a chance to better represent the love of the family because in the entire movie it was like Auggie is the only one they love, even if they love and gave time to Via, it would have been better if they portrayed it in a balance way, wherein the love for both of them can be seen. The things that were previously mentioned are some adequate examples of what could be grasp from the movie, but the one theme that was emphasized in the film was about the kindness that shows regardless of all the experiences of each person.

At the end of the movie it can be seen that Mr. Tushman gave Auggie a special award because of being kind to others in spite of what others have said, on how they have treated and bullied Auggie. It takes a tough person to be as strong, brave and as kind as Auggie is, and while it seems unfair for a child so young to have faced numerous challenges, his courage to accept and be who he is has inspired the viewers. Auggie does not fight back against the mocks he encountered every day. He might have been treated as an outcast but he still chose to be kind because that is what he believes in. At the end of the film, the bullies apologized to him and because of his kind nature he has forgiven them. Kindness was evidently revealed in the movie little by little, from teachers, friends, and family on different point of views which brought the viewers into a realization that it takes so little kindness to make such a big difference. The depiction of the theme kindness was portrayed very well and clear throughout the movie, although it was not mentioned many times, it can be simultaneously understood that it is the message that the movie wants the viewers to learn at the end of it. Wonder left a lesson that everyone is preternatural in their own way. The core message of Wonder is, after all, “When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind” (Dyer, n. d. ).

Works Cited

1. Henly, S. (2017). Wonder review – thoughtful teen drama with a charming cast. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/dec/02/wonder-review-julia-roberts-jacob-tremblay
2. Jones, J. (2017). ‘Wonder’ movie review: A relentlessly sentimental feel-good tearjerker. The Chicago Tribune. https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/sc-mov-wonder-rev-1128-story.html
3. Gino, F., Ashburn-Nardo, L., & Mucchi-Faina, A. (2019). Vicarious embarrassment: A framework for understanding observers’ emotional responses to ostracism. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 116(1), 31–54.
4. Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995). The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117(3), 497–529.
5. Fabes, R. A., & Martin, C. L. (1991). Gender and age stereotypes of emotionality. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 17(5), 532–540.
6. Leary, M. R., & Baumeister, R. F. (2000). The nature and function of self-esteem: Sociometer theory. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 32, 1–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(00)80003-9
7. Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2009). The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement. Free Press.
8. Keltner, D. (2016). The power paradox: How we gain and lose influence. Penguin.
9. Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268.
10. Seligman, M. E. P., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55(1), 5–14.