The Seventh Most Important Thing

Shelley Pearsall

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2015

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Symbols & Motifs

The Number Seven

Seven is a major motif that appears throughout the novel. There are seven important items on Mr. Hampton’s list. Barbara is seven years old. Arthur turns fourteen and then twenty-one during the story (both multiples of seven). On the seventh Saturday of probation, Mr. Hampton changes Arthur’s assignment. Mr. Hampton’s final message, “fear not,” is seven letters long. The epilogue takes place seven years after the main story’s end. There are seven continents, which Arthur uses as a metaphor for his ever-shifting life. The man from the museum defines seven as the number of completeness and perfection. Upon hearing this, Arthur makes the connection between the seven important things and the seven things Arthur needed to change or find in his life. Seven symbolizes Arthur’s progression as a character, as he strives for completeness.

Heaven

Heaven represents key moments in Arthur’s growth. At the beginning of the story, Arthur isn’t sure he believes heaven exists. He wants to think his dad went to heaven but can’t. Later, when Arthur sees Mr. Hampton’s sculpture for the first time, he doesn’t know what it’s supposed to be and is confused when Mr. Hampton says it is heaven. Arthur never pictured heaven like Mr. Hampton’s sculpture. After his dad died, Arthur saw heaven as a place with things to fix so his dad wouldn’t get bored. Arthur admits a belief in heaven here. Mr. Hampton’s conviction gets Arthur seriously considering heaven as a real place.

In Chapter 36, Mr. Hampton tells Arthur and Squeak about his dream to build heaven from broken things. Mr. Hampton strives to take the ugliness of the world (trash and war) and turn it into something beautiful. Mr. Hampton recognizes that the sculpture may never be finished while acknowledging its perfection (the number seven) even in its unfinished form. After Mr. Hampton’s death, Arthur and Squeak scatter coffee cans with different labels across the city. They describe Mr. Hampton’s sculpture as “heavenly” on one can, which is the can where the reporter leaves his business card. The reporter’s article leads to the museum acquiring and eventually displaying the art. “Heavenly” (heaven) saves the sculpture.

Wings

Wings represent Arthur’s journey. Arthur’s most prized possession from his dad is a motorcycle cap with wings on it. When Arthur sees Mr. Hampton wearing his dad’s cap, Arthur throws the brick out of anger and hurt. Arthur wants to punish Mr. Hampton, death, and everything else for taking his dad away. Arthur doesn’t yet realize that his negative feelings are inside him and not in reality.

In Chapter 7, Mr. Hampton returns the motorcycle cap to Arthur. Mr. Hampton took the cap for the wings, but Arthur doesn’t know why. Wings become a mystery, which isn’t resolved until Chapter 27, when Arthur sees the sculpture for the first time. Arthur notes how every piece of the sculpture has wings, and he understands why Mr. Hampton took the cap. The is the first beautiful thing Arthur equates to his dad’s death, which shows Mr. Hampton’s intent for the sculpture in action.

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In Chapter 39, Mr. Hampton asks Arthur to make wings for the sculpture. Arthur initially doesn’t want to do this, symbolizing the sorrow and anger he still carries over his dad’s death. Mr. Hampton shows Arthur how to make wings, and the two discuss Arthur’s dad. Mr. Hampton says Arthur’s dad sounded like a good person. By the end of the chapter, Arthur feels like he’s honored his dad’s legacy in making the wings. In Chapter 43, Mr. Hampton’s landlord disassembles the sculpture. None of the wings are where they should be, much like the missing motorcycle cap earlier. Again, misplaced wings leave Arthur feeling uncertain and upset.

Mr. Hampton discusses how all angels’ wings are different in Chapter 39. He likens some angels to pigeons, even though pigeons aren’t the prettiest birds. Wings represent the differences in angels/birds and, by extension, represent the differences in people. After Mr. Hampton’s death, he might have very different wings from Arthur’s dad, but they are still both angels. Arthur doesn’t realize it yet, but he starts to become comfortable with the idea of being like his dad in this chapter. This foreshadows Arthur acknowledging the similarities between him and his dad in the epilogue.