Discussion Topic
Auggie's Astronaut Helmet: Origin and Disposal
Summary:
In R.J. Palacio's novel, Auggie's astronaut helmet, a gift from Miranda, symbolizes his struggle with self-consciousness due to his facial deformities. Miranda, once close to Auggie's family, gave it to him as a gesture of love. Auggie wore it for a year to hide his face, but after growing more confident at Beecher Prep, he no longer needed it. His father later admitted to discarding the helmet because he missed seeing Auggie's face and wanted him to embrace his identity.
Who gave Auggie his astronaut helmet?
August's astronaut helmet was given to him by Miranda long before the start of the story told in R. J. Palacio's novel. The gift had been given as a gesture of love in response to Auggie's natural self-consciousness about the way he looked. It became a symbol of his hiding from the world, and after he had started attending Beecher Prep and become more confident in who he was, August realizes that he can get by just fine without the helmet. It is partly due to the gift of this helmet that August feels so close to Miranda, and is saddened that he gets to see her less these days.
Miranda is a complicated character in the story. She used to be August's sister, Via's, best friend, but things had gotten complicated when the girls started high school, which resulted in August seeing much less of Miranda. Although...
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Miranda has withdrawn from her friendship with Via in her typical teenage quest to figure out who she is and find her space within the high school pecking order, she is still portrayed as a character with a good heart. It is only later in the story that the reader really gets to know Miranda, and it is heartwarming to see at the end of the book that she returns to the Pullman family fold.
Why did Auggie's dad throw out his astronaut helmet?
After August's graduation ceremony, his father admits that he hated his old astronaut helmet and says that he threw it away. August is shocked by his father's confession and asks him why he got rid of the helmet. August's father responds by telling August that he missed seeing his face. He also tells August that it broke his heart whenever he would cover his face and wanted August to feel comfortable in his own skin.