1. SaiCh
English 12, Per.5
March 16th, 2012
Orchard Essay
The Orchards by Holy Thompson is the novel about Kana Goldberg, a half-Japanese, half-American
girl who is sent to her mother’s ancestor house in Japan and hoping that she will reflect on her
behavior, after being the part of the group who participated in bullying. Thompson attempts this
novel intentionally to bring the audience’s attention to the idea of school bullying. I had a similar
personal experience as Kana, who is a bystander in a particular situation that encourage me to
interpret that “fear” and is a primary factor for a bystander to behave in the bullying.
When I was in eighth grade, one of my classmates, whom I was close to, was claimed that she stole
the money from the popular group. Therefore, they spread the news and tried to convince everyone
to ban the girl. Ultimately, everybody followed the popular group. Even though I knew exactly that
she didn't stole it because she was grown in the wealthy warm-hearted family, I decided to stop
talking to her but I did not swear bad words to her. After I stopped talking to the girl, the popular
group started to make a conversation with me. Moreover, I knew the fact that she has whirlwind
that when she became over stress, the seizure would occur. Eventually, it happened, it was a clear
and vivid picture in my mind, at the back corner of the room, she laid down helplessly, and cried.
Her eyes were red and her tear almost covers her cheek. She spasm, but no one helped her. They just
stared at her doubtfully. One of the popular group said that she was playing a drama, so no one
touched her, or even told the teacher to take care of her. The bell rang, the majority of the class
moved to the next class, and left the nearly dead person there. I followed the majority of the class
without being aware of the fact that whirlwind can cause people to die. Fortunately, the teacher came

2. to the room and saw this girl laid down so she sent her to the hospital. After that day she never
returned to this school again.
I admit that I was part of the group who participated in bullying. Although I didn't attack her
verbally, or mentally, I knew the fact that she did not steal the money and not tried to help the girl.
When I critically think back through that situation, and through the novel, I have an interpretation
that “fear” causes a bystander to behave in a certain way. No one wants to be an outcast. Therefore,
they form in together to have a strong protection toward themselves. Everybody acts the same way,
has the same opinion, says thing in the same tone, to defend themselves from differences. For
example, I followed the majority of the people because if I stayed there and helped that girl, I would
be labeled as an outcast since I did something different. On the other hand, the fear of hurting the
girl cause me to keep silent and did not says bad words to her. Therefore, a bystander is in between
two sides with the “fear line” which they not yet able to cross.
At the end, we can come to a conclusion that fear is the primary reason that the bystanders behave
that way. We all have our own different fears, and we all have different ways to view the outlooks of
life, which determines how the world works. Some of us fear the idea of rejection of society, while
others fear immorality. Either way, we are all afraid and intimidated by what we think will harm us.