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The ability to make a connection with those around us is an ability that is accessible by all. But to
properly build a relationship and offer the best of what you have is something that only a handful
are able to achieve. A great example of this is shown by the two main characters of the book
Wonder, August “Auggie” Pullman and Olivia “Via” Pullman, who are siblings in this literary
masterpiece written by R.J. Palacio. They show that no matter what the odds are against them, they
are still able to keep each other company, even when there are monstrous things otherwise called
problems clouding their worlds. Their relationship is like no other brother-sister relationship, but
rather it is extraordinary. However, it isn’t Auggie’s mandibulofacial dysostosis which makes it
different but rather the love between the two siblings that really makes it stand out.
Via describes the relationship between her and Auggie as if he were a celestial object, using the idea
of a cosmos to get her idea across. “August is the Sun. Me and Mom and Dad are planets orbiting
the Sun. The rest of our family and friends are asteroids and comets floating around the planets
orbiting the Sun,” she says on page 1 of part 2. This quote shows that Via has admitted the nature of
how her family and friends work - Auggie being the centre of attention, while his family members
help him, and their family friends support them throughout the process. Via gives off a tone as if she
understands that he needs help because of what he has to suffer with. However, she mentions that
“the galaxy is changing.” This shows that Via is now struggling to keep up with this idea, and
throughout the book, we realise she is struggling with high school, but her parents are helping
Auggie out because it is his first time going to school, which means that Via has to handle most of it
on her own.
Although Via does understand that Auggie might need help sometimes, Auggie mentions how he
gets appalled by the fact that no one really knows he is as ordinary as any other child on the inside.
“Via doesn't see me as ordinary. She says she does, but if I were ordinary, she wouldn't feel like she
needs to protect me as much,” he says on page 4 of part 1. This shows that although Via is a very
caring sister and is very understanding, Auggie wishes she wouldn’t be so bothered by the fact that
he was “different” from other children simply because of his mandibulofacial dysostosis. Auggie,
clearly, wants to be treated like a normal child, and it is evident that although Via does say she sees
him as a normal child, there is technically still that vibe from her behaviour that indicates that she
thinks of him as someone who needs to be protected all the time, which Auggie realises as the novel
progresses, is not the case.
As the novel moves onward, Via struggles to keep up the norm her family has always followed of
prioritising Auggie’s needs before everyone else’s, and this is because she has many problems to
tackle while being in high school. Via faces lots of issues with friendship, as her friends change
drastically to make a new image for themselves in high school, leaving her behind; while on the
other hand, Via is struggling with shaping her own identity, as no one knows about Auggie’s
existence - her “deformed brother” was the thing that basically defined who she was. As she
mentions “the galaxy is changing” on page 1 of part 2, we realise that Via is struggling just as much
as Auggie is, as she feels bad for not telling anyone about an important aspect of her life (i.e.
Auggie) and at the same time, she is also tired of everything she has had to face ever since she
became Auggie’s older sister. Auggie, too, has been facing a lot of issues, as it is not easy for him to
accept he is the odd one out, and at one point, when Auggie talks about his problems to Via, it also
strengthens the bond they have, although Via still maintains her independence.
Maisha Maryam
Overall, Auggie and Via’s relationship can be defined as a very dynamic relationship because they
go through a lot of ups and downs throughout the novel and end up on a fairly happy note towards
the end