Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Diary of a Wimpy Kid, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Social Status and Friendship
Ideals of Masculinity
Bullying
Independence and Growing Up
Summary
Analysis
Wednesday. Rowley gets in trouble with Mr. Winsky for reportedly “terrorizing” the kindergarteners during Safety Patrol. What Mr. Winsky doesn’t know is that it was actually Greg who terrified the children with a worm—he was misrecognized by a neighbor because he was wearing Rowley’s hat. Greg thinks that maybe he should come clean, but he doesn’t want to lose his hot chocolate privileges. That night, Greg’s mom can tell that something is bothering him. She comes up to his room and tells him that he should make the right choice, since it’s choices that make us who we are.
Greg’s mom tries to teach him to do the right thing, prioritizing obligations to others—like his friend Rowley—rather than his self-interest. However, Greg still seems unable to see beyond his own desires, to the extent that he would rather preserve his hot chocolate privileges than help his friend. This demonstrates his immaturity and self-centeredness.
Themes
Thursday. Greg decides to “let Rowley take one for the team” this time, so Rowley has to apologize to the kindergarteners. He tells Rowley after school that he was the one who chased the kids with the worms, and that there are valuable lessons to be learned from this: Rowley should be more careful about who he lends his hat to. Greg senses that Rowley might be mad at him, because Rowley declines to hang out after school. When Greg gets home, he says that he did “the right thing,” and his mom takes him out for ice cream as a reward.
For Greg, doing the “right thing” means choosing to protect himself and his own interests. His immaturity blinds him to his friend Rowley’s feelings, so he is unable to figure out why Rowley is angry with him and doesn’t want to hang out after school. Clearly Greg has trouble forming and maintaining adult social relationships, a limitation which has consequences for his friendship with Rowley.
Themes
Tuesday. Mr. Winsky calls Greg to his office and tells him that an “anonymous source” has revealed that he was “the real culprit in the worm-chasing incident.” He fires Greg from Safety Patrol and reinstates Rowley. Greg quickly figures out that the anonymous source was probably Rowley, and is incredulous that his best friend would “backstab” him like that. He thinks of teaching Rowley a lesson about loyalty, but instead he decides to play nice in a bid to get Rowley to take him to Six Flags later in the year.
Greg comically and immaturely misunderstands the nature of loyalty between friends. Instead of thinking that he should be loyal to Rowley and own up to his mistakes, he expects Rowley to cover for him. This demonstrates that he sees his friendship with Rowley as an arrangement that is always primarily on his terms, rather than acting for their mutual benefit.
Themes
Wednesday. Greg has now lost his hot chocolate privileges, and worse, Rowley doesn’t make any effort to give him some hot chocolate in the mornings. He notices that Rowley has been giving him the cold shoulder and doesn’t want to play in the snow anymore.
Greg finally begins to understand that his friendship with Rowley has been compromised. This shows some personal growth and self-awareness on his part, although he still doesn’t seem to feel remorse for his actions.
Themes
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