In Greek mythology, Atlas was a Titan, one of the generation of gods who preceded and fought a war against the Olympians. After the Olympians’ victory, Zeus punished Atlas by forcing him to hold up the sky for eternity. In artistic renderings, Atlas is typically depicted holding a globe that represents the celestial spheres.

In Ungifted, a statue of Atlas holding a globe stands on Hardcastle’s campus. A company called Classical Bronze Foundries, which eventually went bankrupt, created the statue. Its design is flawed; a single bolt connects the more than 400-pound globe to Atlas’s shoulders. When Donovan smashes a tree branch against the statue, the bolt collapses, causing the globe to roll down a hill and crash into the school gym during a basketball game. The school’s insurance company, Parthenon Insurance Group, initially resists paying for repairs due to the design flaw. Atlas serves a symbolic function. The flawed and broken Atlas statue symbolizes Donovan’s humbling. After the accident and his lucky escape from Dr. Shultz, he feels “the presence of that bent-over Atlas,” and resists the impulse to engage in further pranks. He worries in particular about the consequences in regard to his parents, who are going through challenging times.