The Bully

The Bully’s final chapters complete Darrell’s character arc—his transition from a victim to a brave, empowered, and mature young man. Not only does he change the way he feels about himself and his life, but he also changes others around him.

Darrell’s example allows the people around him to grow. Harold has come out of his shy shell, as he considers joining the wrestling team, attends the school dance, and even talks to a girl he has a crush on. Amberlynn also learns from seeing Darrell worry less about what other people think of him. Just as he helps Miss Bea in the lunchroom despite the laughter and stares from other students, so too does Amberlynn become more comfortable following her own instincts, engaging with the people she cares about and living up to her principles. When Darrell musters the confidence to ask Amberlynn to dance, she gains the courage to tell him that she hoped he would ask. Now that they have both matured, they can express their romantic interest in one another.

Even Uncle Jason understands something about his flaws from his deepening relationship with Darrell. After confronting Uncle Jason about his negative comments at the wrestling match, Darrell is emboldened to shake off Uncle Jason’s harmful advice about Defining Being a Man. When Darrell sees Travis bullying Nate, he immediately intervenes and rescues Nate. Earlier, Uncle Jason counseled Darrell to stay out of their combative relationship. However, this time, Uncle Jason finally realizes that allowing Travis to torment Nate with impunity is only cementing his cruelty and enjoyment of others’ pain. Rather than becoming a responsible, trustworthy, protective young man—clearly what Uncle Jason was hoping would happen—Travis is developing into a sadistic bully like Tyray. Uncle Jason admits that Darrell has shown him that he needs to change. Darrell’s inner strength and resolve command respect; dominating those who are smaller or weaker is not an appropriate expression of masculinity or power. Uncle Jason allows himself to be emotionally vulnerable with Darrell, which helps repair the rift between them.

The last challenge Darrell must overcome is Tyray. Paying Tyray did not resolve Tyray’s intimidation; in this case, a show of both mental and physical force is necessary. However, since Tyray is still much more physically imposing than Darrell, it will have to be a matter of Smarts Versus Strength. With his newfound confidence and the strength he has gained from wrestling, Darrell makes the decision to stop paying.

These chapters build toward the climactic confrontation in the lunchroom, during which Darrell beats Tyray in several different ways. First, Darrell models how to better employ power. Tyray knocks over Darrell’s lunch tray, forcing Miss Bea to clean it up despite her bad back. Darrell shows Tyray the stakes of his cruelty and demonstrates a better way of being strong, helping Miss Bea clean up Tyray’s pointless mess despite the bullies’ laughter.

Second, Darrell finds the emotional strength to call out Tyray as a bully. At the beginning of the book, Darrell would have been too scared to admit being Tyray’s victim. But now, Darrell is more self-assured; he can face whatever social harm will come when he confronts Tyray. He has seen the same dynamic play out between Travis and Nate and realizes that Nate should not feel ashamed. This moment breaks some of the social power that Tyray holds over Darrell.

Third, Darrell uses what he’s seen of How Bullies Exercise Power against Tyray. In their previous encounters, Darrell was outnumbered, which led to him feeling powerless. Now, however, his friends from the wrestling team step up and have his back, keeping Tyray’s cronies from ganging up on Darrell. Isolated, Tyray feels some of the same fear that Darrell has felt; he glances away in the middle of their stare down. This shows that Tyray has lost some of his ability to intimidate Darrell. If Darrell isn’t afraid of Tyray, then Tyray cannot use fear to control him.

Finally, Darrell uses his smarts and applies his wrestling technique to the physical fight with Tyray. Even though Tyray is bigger and stronger than Darrell, Darrell is able to perform his favorite move to take Tyray down. Untrained in how to fall safely, Tyray breaks his wrist on the way down and screams in pain. Injured, Tyray loses his physical supremacy. Tyray no longer occupies a position of power over Darrell or anyone else at school. By confronting Tyray, Darrell can finally pursue his friendships, spend time with the girl he likes, and escape the patterns of self-doubt and self-loathing that have kept him from thriving.