The Bully in the Rye

In one of my previous posts, I made a comment that the video game Bully could be discussed in a classroom setting, specifically about the violence of the video game and actions of the characters.  I reread my previous post, and it donned on me that I wasn't really making a case for incorporating teaching this game in an Adolescent Literature course as much as in an Adolescent Social Issues class or something along those lines.  The impact of violence in video games is indeed a very serious issue, and there are lesson plans out there aimed specifically at discussing and analyzing this violence with high school students.

While the theme of bullying is deeply rooted in the game's plot, there is still so much to be found in the narrative.  The social commentary on high school culture is genius- the game's student body is made up of different cliques typical of all high schools, and all of them are war with one another over girlfriends and turf (the Greasers and Socs from The Outsiders even make an appearance).  Meanwhile, the faculty and staff constantly reminds the students how much they hate their jobs.  I think back to Speak's "clans" of students and its caricature depictions of teachers (Hairwoman, Mr. Neck) that everyone in the real world has had for class in their high school career.

The game is rich in character analysis as well:  Producer Jeronimo Barrera said in an interview that his contributions to the game were inspired by Catcher in the Rye, and this is easily seen in Jimmy Hopkins, the game's main protagonist.  The game begins with Jimmy's mother and new step-father driving away for their year long honeymoon after dropping him off at Bullworth Academy, with Jimmy left wondering "Mom...why'd you marry that phony?"  And with that, Jimmy's similarities to Catcher's Holden Caulfield begin.   Both characters have a history of being expelled from schools (Holden for failing, Jimmy for behavior), have a troubled family history (Holden has no relationship with his parents, Jimmy's mother was just married for the 6th time), but most importantly, both of them share the same cynical attitude.  Holden sees "phoniness" in just about every aspect of life and the people around him, although he himself is hypocritical and mean throughout the story.  Similarly, Jimmy is quick to criticize the different social classes in Bullworth Academy, and openly denounces bullying.  However, if he can profit from it, he will go ahead and resort to violence or partner up with the people he loathes.  Jimmy's step toward adulthood is not an easy one, but he does ultimately learn from the mistakes he has made, and learns that he does not need to be a loner any longer. 

Between the social commentary, the characters, and the themes and motifs that are present in the game, there is much to interpret and discuss in a classroom setting.   Now, as for a lesson plan on how to go about teaching the game, I will have to come back to that at another time, because the netbook's battery is almost dead (the perfect excuse for an escape/ending!).