Stand by Me; Aces Bulling, Friendship and Not Taking the Body Back

In this essay I will be discussing some of the physical trials faced in Stand by me (Chris’ gang) which led to an emotional journey to adulthood. The trials the boys faced, I thought weren’t all good. I will argue about a physical trial that turned into an emotional trial that made them even worse emotionally and physically, than they already were. My first argument will be discussing that Ace’s bullying had nothing to do with the boys growing up, but actually made them worse physically and mentally. My second topic is about how the boys’ friendship grew so much throughout the film. The reason why adult Gordie said, “I never had friends like the ones when I was 12”. My third topic is about why Gordie decided not to take the body of Ray back to Castle Rock, of how this made him a little bit more mature and a man.

My first topic is arguing that Ace and his gang bullying Chris and his friends, had nothing to do with the boys growing up. The first sign of bullying was when Ace and his friend stole Gordie’s hat. Gordie showed some sign of struggle to get it back but eventually gave up because he wasn’t strong enough. This made him feel weak and sad for losing his brothers hat. By the look on Chris’ face he didn’t want to say or do anything but he did to protect his friend by calling Ace a name. When Ace threw Chris on the ground and made him take back what he said, and he did. They let them go and laughed as they walked away. Now this made Chris feel weak and sad that he couldn’t help his friend. Another time was when they were at the dead body. They only reason Gordie stood up to Ace was because he was holding a gun. All the shit (pardon me) that Ace has been doing to Gordie for the past few years; Gordie knew that Ace would stop in his tracks and Ace didn’t know what Gordie was capable of. This ‘act’ did not necessarily make him stronger. Without that gun Gordie would’ve run like Vern. So What I figured is that bullying made them weak and depressed.

My second topic is discussing some of the points of why the grown up Gordie said ‘I never had friends like the ones when I was 12’. My first point is when Gordie’s hat was taken from him and Chris called Ace a name. Ace gave Chris a chance to take it back but he didn’t and readied himself for whatever Ace was going to throw at him. For friendship he stood up to someone twice his height and 10times his strength. Another time was when Teddy wasn’t going to move off the railway tracks and Chris forced him off. Even though Teddy was pissed-off Chris had to do it for Teddys’ own good. The third point is when they were crossing the bridge a train was headed their way. Gordie didn’t move until he helped Vern onto his feet and made him run for his life, literally. Then Gordie took a chance and threw himself and Vern over the edge onto the ground before the train hit them. In that situation I knew Gordie was faster than Vern but Gordie risked his life to save his friend by running behind him. In this journey the boys’ friendship grew so much that they wouldn’t of done any of these (you might call it), courageous stuff if they met each other the first time. This was one hell of a physical and emotional journey for all of them. (Hell! If I were on the railway tracks on