The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles

The umbrella symbolizes creative thinking, as Savant uses his imagination to turn the common object into something that has diverse usages. The first usage is unsurprising. Rain falls at the zoo, and Savant opens his umbrella to keep himself and the children dry. For Savant, however, the umbrella already serves another purpose. Lindy compliments the big yellow butterflies on the umbrella, and Savant replies, “I bought it because it’s cheery and it makes people look up” (11). The umbrella serves as a teaching tool, reflecting Savant’s belief that most people are devoid of wonder and imagination and seeking to remedy this.

In Whangdoodleland, a world premised on imagination, the varied benefits of the umbrella become clear. To rescue Lindy from the Splintercat, Savant, Tom, and Ben must board the speedy Brainstrain. Savant uses the umbrella to get himself on the train and to pick up Tom, who had fallen off. After rescuing Lindy, the umbrella becomes a form of shelter, with Savant using it as a makeshift roof when the group spends the night outside. Later, Savant weaponizes the umbrella, using it to hit the Gyascutus so that the children have more time to cross the bridge and reach the palace.