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The lessons of history are only valuable when applied.

Mr. Hundert fails to impart the greatest lessons learned through history to his students because he focuses on facts rather than on what can be learned from them. In the classroom, for instance, the tasks he assigns are those of memorization and reproduction. The ultimate test of his students’ learning is the “Mr. Julius Caesar” contest, which requires the winner only to remember the facts from Mr. Hundert’s outline of Roman history. When students are not memorizing the outline he’s given them, they engage in craft projects that reproduce historical objects, such as the tablet with the ancient king Shutruk-Nahhunte’s inscription that hangs above the classroom door, the togas the boys wear during lessons, or the paper mâché replica of Hadrian’s arch that Sedgewick makes for class. 

Mr. Hundert’s focus on trivial details foreshadows his lack of integrity in pivotal moments. While he knows the actions of great men, he fails to apply the lessons of history in his own life and therefore must watch history repeat itself. His “dullard” students become the CEOs and politicians who run the world through deception, while the learned scholars live in quiet anonymity. Mr. Hundert is challenged by an anonymous student, by Senator Bell, by a board member, and by Ellerby to explain the value of what he teaches. He argues that learning history helps students grasp the importance of living a life based on high ideals and character, but his actions disprove his argument. Mr. Hundert knows more than most about history, yet he fails to act honorably in the small moments when he might have made a difference. 

People ignore information that doesn't support their preconceived ideas.

Early in his career, Mr. Hundert ascribes to the notion of universal truths or “high ideals” that are exemplified by Roman history. He strives to teach his students both ambition and humility by repeating the same lessons every year. Even at the beginning of his career, Mr. Hundert’s focus as a history teacher is squarely on the past and tradition. As such, he is resistant to any change that might challenge the importance of that period of history to which he had dedicated his life. This resistance can be seen in Mr. Hundert’s passionate argument against a school board member who argues for a change to the way history is taught. The school board member wears a tie-dye shirt, alluding to the protests for change rampant in the 1960s and 70s. Mr. Hundert concedes that the man made valid points, but he still rails against them with an old, memorized speech. 

In his dealings with Sedgewick Bell, Mr. Hundert tends to side with Sedgewick, to bend his own morals even, to benefit the boy. When he catches him cheating, Mr. Hundert first assumes that he has corrupted Sedgewick. He holds on to that belief until the second competition, thinking that Sedgewick managed to overcome the corruption with time. At times, Mr. Hundert seems unable or unwilling to accept the truth about Sedgewick Bell’s lack of moral character. Mr. Hundert ignores details that don’t fall in line with his view of himself as an important and influential man.

Adaptation is the key to success.

Sedgewick’s success is largely due to his ability to shape himself into whatever his current audience wants. When he arrives in Mr. Hundert’s class on the first day, instead of being scared and quiet, Sedgewick immediately mimics the attitude and behavior of Fred Masoudi, whom Mr. Hundert calls the “leader of the dullards,” showing his ability to figure out the person in the room who can most benefit him. Before long, Sedgewick rises to such a high level of popularity that he manages to direct other boys in disruptive pranks. When Mr. Hundert confronts him about his poor performance in class, Sedgewick pledges to try harder, and his grades indicate that he has, but even this is contrived behavior meant to successfully win Mr. Hundert’s favor. Sedgewick’s improved performance leads Mr. Hundert to underhandedly reward him with a spot in the “Mr. Julius Caesar” contest. Once Sedgewick is on stage playing the part of an aspiring Caesar, his theatrics continue to win over Mr. Hundert until he finally notices the truth. In the rematch, Sedgewick again becomes who Mr. Hundert and his former peers want to see. Likewise, he wins the election for U.S. Senate because he convinces select audiences that he’s just like them. When he speaks to the miners he hopes to win over, he dons a hard hat, speaks in a drawl, and creates an alternative history that makes him one of the people rather than a man born out of privilege.

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