Eli tells Punchinello, “The stickers only stick if they matter to you. Punchinello goes to Eli and discovers that he matters to Eli, because Eli made him and it wasn’t a mistake. In the story, being special is defined by the woodcarver Eli as being made uniquely. But are these the only traits that make someone special? We could also consider being special as the same thing as being unique. Being special usually means being greater, better, or otherwise different than what is usual. Having these qualities and talents are what the Wemmicks think deserve a gold star. The other Wemmicks always assess Punchinello’s worth using standards of excellence that are described in the book: being pretty having smooth wood and fine paint being talented lifting things jumping high knowing big words or singing songs. He judges his own worth based on the opinions and judgments of others. The central issue in the story is about whether the opinions of other Wemmicks should determine how Punchinello feels about himself. You Are Special introduces the idea of what being special means and whether that matters. Read aloud video by LiberatEd Guidelines for Philosophical Discussion Eli explains to Punchinello that if he is not bothered by what the other Wemmicks think then the stars and dots will not stick to him either. Punchinello doesn’t want any stickers on him either so Lucia tells him to visit their maker, Eli. One day he meets a Wemmick named Lucia who doesn’t have any gold stars or gray dots because they don’t stick to her. A Wemmick named Punchinello always tries his best to receive gold stars from the other Wemmicks but only receives gray dots for not doing well enough. The Wemmicks give each other either a gold star or a gray dot sticker. Questions for Philosophical Discussion » Summary Should the opinions of other people determine how we feel about ourselves?
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