Summary
Wonderends with August “Auggie” Pullman (Jacob Tremblay) winning the Henry Ward Beecher Medal.Adapted from the 2012 novelWonderand inspired by true stories, the film is a coming-of-age story that follows Auggie, a 10-year-old boy with a rare facial deformity known as Treachers Collins syndrome, as he attends school with children his age for the first time. The story also explores the challenges faced by his best friend Jack Will (Noah Jupe) and older sister, Olivia “Via” (Izabela Vidovic). Auggie and Via’s parents, Isabel (Julia Roberts) and Nate (Owen Wilson), play prominent roles as members ofWonder’s castas well.
Before the end-of-year ceremony in which Auggie wins the medal, he and Jack briefly sneak away while on a class trip and are attacked by several older students. Unlike earlier in the story, when Auggie was alone among his peers, he is no longer alone as he stands his ground against his attackers alongside Jack and three boys – Amos, Miles, and Henry – who previously bullied Auggie throughout the year. Auggie’s many admirable qualities, including his perseverance and genuine compassion, won them over, and they even become friends.
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Why Does Auggie Win The Henry Ward Beecher Medal?
The Award Is Given To Students Who Have Been Notable Or Exemplary
Auggie wins the Henry Ward Beecher medal because of hisquiet strength and for his ability to positively influence his peers.A montage of previous scenes plays as the school principal, Mr. Tushman (Mandy Patinkin), explains how this year’s awards were chosen, showing how Auggie inspired classmates like Jack and Summer Dawson (Millie Davis) to take risks and do the right thing. Because of the brave example Auggie set, Jack and Summer stopped sitting with their mean-spirited friends in the cafeteria and joined Auggie instead, along with Jack standing up to Auggie’s main bully, Julian Albans (Bryce Gheier).
Julian is ultimately suspended due to his bullying of Auggie and Julian’s parents decide that their son will not be returning to the school the following year.
Before the ceremony, Nate and Auggie reflect on how far he has come, and Isabel calls Auggie"a wonder"after Auggie thanks her for making him go to school.Wonder’s heartfelt family scenes show how Auggie’s parents are proud and recognize the enormous progress he made. This is important to Auggie’s journey, but winning the medal and the standing ovation he receives are also vital to demonstrating how the children and adults in the school community recognize Auggie’s growth and that they area better community because of the positive impact he has had on all of them.
What Happens To Via, Isabel, & Nate?
Auggie’s Family Members Have Their Own Character Arcs
With Auggie being the center of the Pullman family’s attention,Via is overlooked and ignored. This struggle is made worse by Via’s best friend Miranda Navas (Danielle Rose Russell) suddenly ignoring her, in addition to the death of Grans (Sônia Braga), the one family member Via felt was always watching out for her. Via’s breakthrough comes through participating in her school’s production ofOur Town, as Miranda pretends to be sick so Via can play the lead role on opening night. Via’s powerful performance helps her find reconciliation with Miranda and with her family watching in the audience.
Via finds further happiness with Justin Hollander (Nadji Jeter), a kindhearted peer who encourages her to audition for the play in the first place, and who becomes a supportive boyfriend. As for Isabel and Nate, their relationship emerges stronger than ever, and they get to enjoy some rare child-free time together while Auggie is on his class trip and Via and Justin are at Coney Island. Isabel also found time to finish the thesis she’d been working on for years, with her, Nate, and Via allloving and caring for Auggie while finding additional sources of joy and personal meaning.
How Every Character Perspective Changes Wonder
Via, Jack, And Miranda Provide Different Perspectives Than Auggie
Much like the source material, the filmis not only told from Auggie’s point of view, withWonderfeaturing the perspectives of other characters, including Via, Jack, and Miranda. Theseperspectives often shed new light on scenes that were shown earlier in the storythrough Auggie’s point of view. What Via is thinking about at the dinner table after the first day of school, why Jack first chose to sit with Auggie at lunch, and why Miranda suddenly stopped talking with Via all have more weight after seeing events through these characters' eyes.
Given how differently and cruelly Auggie is treated by Julian and others because of his appearance, his journey is particularly challenging, and made even more isolating when it seems that even Jack is talking about him behind his back. As difficult as Auggie’s circumstances can be,Wonderemphasizes that he’s not the only one struggling to put on a brave face while feeling increasingly isolated and hopeless. Via, Jack, and Miranda are alsofighting their own internal demons and longing to be accepted by their peerswithout losing the essence of who they are.
The Real Meaning Of Wonder’s Ending
Wonder Teaches Important Lessons About Tolerance And Community
Wonder’s ending proves thatevery individual is fighting a battle others can’t seeand that these battles can be made better by forming connections and working together. Life gets better for Auggie at school through the connections he forges with Jack and Summer, with those connections inspiring them to make better choices that are reflective of their best selves. Via’s connection with Justin and Miranda’s choice to reconnect with Via on the opening night of their school production allows them to work through their respective battles.
The various characters celebrating together when Auggie wins the Henry Ward Beecher Medal is a powerful way to demonstrate one final time that theseindividuals are stronger together than they are alone. Isabel is right about Auggie being a wonder for many reasons, with him overcoming far more than most realize by judging him by his appearances alone. No matter how alone and hopeless Auggie and the other characters inWonderfeel, they find a community in each other.
