1. Loyalty and Support: All the boys, namely Gordie, Chris, Teddy, and Vern, come from diversified backgrounds, each finding strength in the bond of friendship shared between them. Loyalty towards one another can be witnessed right from the time being taken in their journey to track down the body of a missing boy. This loyalty happens to be a bit more evident in the relationship between Chris and Gordie. Chris pushes Gordie, although also from a tough background, to practice his profession of writing when Gordie does not believe in himself.
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-stand-by-me-1986-columbia-pictures-film-with-river-phoenix-at-left-80263289.html?imageid=3BE907A8-F01F-4478-9A7A-0DB0800705BA&p=13044&pn=1&searchId=ab80636075500b0619165598f116d954&searchtype=0
2. Vulnerability: The boys often open up to each other about personal struggles and insecurities, offering insight into one another’s worlds. Chris, for instance, opens up to Gordie about his family’s reputation and the treatment he feels he does not deserve. This openness draws them closer, proof that in an environment like their own-which largely suppresses this emotion-fellowship allows such freedom.
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-stand-by-me-das-geheimnis-eines-sommers-stand-by-me-usa-1986-regie-125571970.html?imageid=72BA7EC0-D195-441F-B286-CC7A25FCC52F&p=1238267&pn=2&searchId=42e8d0a1a6a25a814fe7c87f5c69b8e6&searchtype=0
3. Identity Search: The boys are also seeking self-identification and in which direction to go in life as they make this journey. They assist each other through a difficult transition from childhood into adolescence and support one another through moments of doubt and confusion. Especially, Gordie has been trying to find his place within his family, and along with that, the trauma he feels due to the death of his brother-it’s his friends, especially Chris, who help him get his direction.
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-stand-by-me-year-1986-director-rob-seiner-wil-wheaton-river-phoenix-10126243.html?imageid=A6ADFCCB-8773-48F0-A101-555BFB39FA61&p=27896&pn=4&searchId=86432e0a3a8076e8142d2c97224ab79f&searchtype=0
4. Lessons of Growing Up: The journey in itself acted like a metaphor for the growth of boys into maturity. The trials they face together-standing up to a bully, crossing dangerous terrain, or facing mortality-instruct them much about themselves and most of life’s many complexities. The search to find the body of the dead person is a metaphor that relates to the transition of boys into maturity from their innocence, and their friendship helps them get through the transition phase.
https://www.alamy.com/original-film-title-stand-by-me-english-title-stand-by-me-film-director-rob-reiner-year-1986-stars-jerry-oconnell-river-phoenix-corey-feldman-wil-wheaton-credit-columbia-pictures-album-image207072978.html?imageid=4D288981-E74E-4990-8B1B-BDE7E8EB89D0&p=697459&pn=4&searchId=86432e0a3a8076e8142d2c97224ab79f&searchtype=0