Bully In Drew Hayden Taylor's Girl Who Loved Her Horses

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One of the major themes in Drew Hayden Taylor's play "Girl Who Loved Her Horses" is bullying. Danielle, a young Indigenous girl, is bullied by her parents and friends in the play. The expression "sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me" emphasizes that verbal assault has no lasting effects. However, we can infer from the play that it is the contrary. Words may hurt, they stick with you even if you attempt to forget them, they drag you down, and they leave invisible wounds. This essay will discuss who Danielle is bullied by, how it affects her, and what can be done to stop it.
First, she is tormented and mocked by her classmates, including William. "WILLIAM: What's with this stupid picture anyway?" says the text. It’s just pencil-crayon on a wall. I just don’t see what all the fuss is about” (Taylor 171). It also says “WILLIAM: I’m sick of that horse. If she’s such a great artist, let’s see her do something else. Danielle, as a favor to me, please, draw me a…a..dog. Yeah, a dog” (Taylor 171). These passages show William insulting Danielle and ordering her to sketch something different for him. It is stated later in the play, "WILLIAM: We were having a fun game of cards until she showed up. Did you know Ralph gave her a cute little nickname? Girl Who …show more content…

The text says “They barely hear the quiet crying of DANIELLE. DANIELLE doesn’t say anything, just cries more” (Taylor 173). This demonstrates that she does not enjoy the names and insults and is hurt by them. Again, it states, “DANIELLE: Now I’m afraid of mommy. Her boyfriend” (Taylor 174). This demonstrates that being mocked and subjected to frequent verbal abuse from her family makes her fearful. In the end, Danielle's relentless bullying and agony from her peers and family had a significant impact on her wellbeing, proving the phrase "sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me"