Bystander

Griffin’s group uses animal metaphors to justify their bullying of weaker children. When Eric criticizes Griffin for his bullying of David Hallenback, he responds, “Kids like Hallenback are always going to get beat on. It’s the law of the jungle. Only the strong survive” (93). When Eric says they are in middle school, not a jungle, Griffin replies, “It’s still a jungle, the survival of the fittest” (93). Griffin mentions that he came up with his comparisons by watching nature shows. He even compares Hallenback to a “sick gazelle in the herd, limping along. The one that gets eaten” (93). When Eric later questions why no one ever stops the bullying, a minor character named Drew P. echoes Griffin’s philosophy: “There’s always going to be some guys who take a pounding. That’s life. What do they call it in science? Natural selection” (129).

Animal imagery and metaphors, especially those involving dogs, appear throughout the novel. It is significant that many events, including Eric and Cody’s fight, take place in a pet cemetery. Pets, and dogs in particular, are trained to do exactly as they are told. In school counselor Mr. Floyd’s presentation, he describes how people don’t speak out against bullying or other injustices because they follow leaders without question (even those who are clearly wrong). As the leader of his clique, the “wolf” of his “flock,” Griffin has the mindless loyalty of his followers even as he perpetrates cruel acts of bullying. After recruiting Hallenback to play a role in his bullying of Eric, Griffin uses a pet metaphor to describe their relationship: “Hallenback is a puppy. He’d jump off a bridge for me” (185). When Cody beats up Eric, the event is described as “a chilling display of pure animal violence” (141).