Chapter Two: Why You Gotta Be So Mean?

The relationship between Billy Pilgrim and Roland Weary is somewhat similar to the relationship to a bully and a victim. Weary would constantly hit Pilgrim while Pilgrim accepts his unearned punishment. Vonnegut shows the unfair bond especially in the quote, "The person who was shaking him was Roland Weary. Weary had gathered the front of Billy's field jacket into his hands. He banged Billy against a tree, then pulled him away from it, flung him in the direction he was supposed to take under his own power" (47).  As I read the chapter, I was really upset. I do not tolerate bullying at all! What was Roland Weary’s motivation that made him always abuse Billy Pilgrim? Why do bullies torment other people in the first place? I immediately thought of Harry Potter. Draco Malfoy bullied Harry Potter literally since day one of school. What did he have against him? I remember Draco’s relationship with his father. This relationship was more of a verbal abuse to lower Draco’s self-esteem. There is always a reason why bullies torment other people. The main motivation would be someone at school, a neighbor, family member, etc. is mistreating that same bully. Roland Weary was probably bullied before being drafted into the war. Roland Weary actually had a horrible childhood. Vonnegut expresses Weary's childhood stating "He had been unpopular because he was stupid and fat and mean, and smelled like bacon no matter how much he washed. He was always being ditched in Pittsburgh by people who did not want him with them" (35).  He is looking for revenge by abusing Billy Pilgrim, a skinny soldier that did no harm to Weary.