The Development of Friendship between Stanley and Zero

The value of friendship is illustrated in Holes. There are different kinds of

friendship portrayed in the story. For instance, there is X-Ray’s brand of friendship which
is based on rewards and threats. However, there is also true and unselfish friendship
shown in the story. Stanley, the protagonist of the story successfully builds a strong and
genuine friendship with Zero in Camp Green Lake, a juvenile detention center.

When Zero who is uneducated, first asks Stanley to teach him to read and write,
Stanley rejects him because Stanley thinks after digging all day, he does not have the
strength to teach Zero and he needs to save his energy for the people who count. His
rejection makes the readers think that he and Zero will not befriend with each other.
Nevertheless, the story develops ironically. A strong friendship is slowly formed between
two of them. Stanley is brought to see the Warden by Mr. Sir for stealing the sunflower
seeds. When he is back from the visit to the Warden, he reaches his holes and finds that
Zero has dug it for him. Back in the tent, Stanley waits until the other boys have left
before thanking Zero and asking him why he helps. Zero says that Stanley does not steal
the sunflower seeds. He knows Stanley should not take the blame because he is innocent.
Besides, Zero also tells Stanley “You did not steal the sneakers” as well. This shows that
Zero might feel guilty to Stanley for causing him to be convicted to the sneakers-stealing
crime. So, he helps him to dig his hole. Moreover, Zero might help Stanley just because
he wants to do Stanley a favor so that Stanley will agree to teach him. After Zero digs
Stanley’s hole, Stanley starts to change his perspective towards Zero and to return his
favor, Stanley offers to teach him to read and write. They work out a deal in which Zero
will dig Stanley’s hole for an hour everyday so that Stanley won’t be so tired when he
teaches Zero. Although it is just a deal which gives them mutual benefits, it leads to an
honest and genuine friendship. It also gives them a chance to get to know each other
better. When Stanley starts to teach Zero, he discovers that Zero is very good in
mathematics and is a quick learner. He is not stupid as everyone in the camp thinks.

When Stanley and Zero’s friendship becomes stronger and stronger, it threatens
X-Ray’s system of control. X-Ray becomes uneasy and the boys feel jealous to them. So,
they taunt Stanley for having a slave to help him to dig his holes. This causes a fight
between Stanley and Zigzag. Zero immediately comes to Stanley’s rescue and almost
kills Zigzag until Armpit breaks them up. When the authorities find out the reason of the
fight, Mr. Pendanski taunts Zero about his stupidity. It causes Zero to smash his shovel
across Mr. Pendanski’s face and run away to the desert to escape the punishment. Stanley
considers ways to help Zero but cannot think of any that does not involve retribution
from the Warden. At last, Stanley picks up enough courage to run after Zero by stealing
Mr. Sir’s water truck. However, he drives the truck into a hole. He gets out and runs
away to look after Zero. This shows Stanley is willing to sacrifice for his friend.

After walking through a long journey, Stanley finds Zero under a boat named
Mary Lou. Zero, who has found many jars of spiced peaches, shares the last jar with
Stanley. This shows Zero is unselfish to Stanley. After they get enough rest under the
boat, they decide to head towards God’s thumb, a mountain which Stanley’s believes that
his great-grandfather has found refuge at there. They periodically give each other the
thumbs up sign for reassurance as they walk. When Zero suffers from stomachache,
Stanley keeps spelling words for Zero to keep him occupied. At one point Zero uses the
shovel to help Stanley up part of a cliff. This causes Zero to get big cuts in his hands.
These show that they are very supportive for each other. After Zero has passed out,
Stanley carries him up the mountain. They survive on onions at the mountain. At there,
Zero confesses to Stanley that he is the one who causes Stanley to be convicted to the
sneakers-stealing crime. However, Stanley is happy he got arrested because now he has a
friend. They also discover each other’s background which reveals that their ancestors are
related. After that, they return to the camp secretly and dig out the treasure, which is
belonged to Stanley’s great-grandfather, buried by Kate Barlow. They successfully
survive from the threats of yellow-spotted lizards and the Warden and the counselors.
Stanley’s lawyer comes to bring Stanley to leave the camp. However, Stanley refuses to
leave without Zero. At last, Zero is allowed to leave because all of his records have been
destroyed. In the end, they leave Camp Green Lake and split the treasure among
themselves.

Stanley and Zero demonstrate their commitment to each other and their true
friendship. They make sacrifices for the other which shows that they honestly want to
help each other and are not just helping each other to attain some benefits for themselves.
Their genuine and unselfish friendship earns them freedom and fortune – not just
physical freedom and material wealth, but emotional freedom, happiness and self-
satisfaction.