Why Greg Heffley is an Unreliable Narrator and is Also Possibly the Worst Character in Literary History

 

    The first sentence in the entire series of Diary of a Wimpy Kid is Greg Heffley forcefully telling the audience what to believe. “First of all, let me get something straight: This is a JOURNAL, not a diary.” Greg Heffley does not let the reader come to any ideas on their own, and instead is instructing the reader on what to believe. This singular sentence sets up the reader with this feeling that Greg Heffley is not going to be a humble, selfless narrator. This demanding, entitled, selfishness is something repeated in Heffley’s narration over and over as the first book goes on and other books come out. In just the second page of the first book, Heffley flaunts his ego by claiming that one day he will be rich and famous, and have better things to do than answer stupid peoples questions. Which means he was basically announcing that he viewed himself smarter than the greater majority of the entire world. On that same page he claims to be the smartest at his school and that he was trapped with a bunch of morons! Is this really the kind of voice the reader should be listening to? Who does this appeal to?

    In the first book there is not a single page where Heffley isn’t making a dig at the intellects of the students around him. He proudly makes fun of his friends. When Greg Heffley first mentions Rowley Jefferson, a boy soon known as Heffley’s best friend, and a boy who absolutely adores Heffley, he insults the poor boy; “(who is probably hovering around the 150 mark, by the way,)” this comes during Heffley’s explanation of popularity ranking. Heffley considers himself to be 52nd on the popularity ranking, and that Jefferson is far far behind him. But if that was really the case why would his only friend be so far back in popularity? Shouldn’t Heffley be hanging out with his fellow 50s or late 40s? And if that was really true, why is that people like Jefferson so much more than him? One of these questions is vaguely mentioned later on in the book, when Jefferson is mentioned again, Heffley states that he is currently annoyed by Jefferson because Jefferson embarrassed him in front of the “cool kids.” He explains how he now is on a look out for a new best friend due to Jefferson’s behavior. But that clearly is not going well, because Jefferson seems to be the only person at Heffley’s school that can accept Heffley’s egotistical act. And also because Heffley really isn’t as popular as he claims himself to be. So Heffley is lying to the reader too now.

    Heffley often explains the sadistic pranks that his Brother Rodrick Heffley pulls on him. Greg then explains how he enjoys using these awful pranks and pulling them on Jefferson. Greg Heffley seems to have just as bad of a relationship with his family than he does with his classmates. He doesn’t like Rodrick because Rodrick is horrid to him, though he then acts the same to Jefferson. Heffley doesn't like his mom because his mom is always trying to encourage him which is “embarrassing.” Heffley doesn't like his father because his father likes to push him, and he is incredibly lazy. He does not like his younger brother Manny, because in his mind Manny is an idiot.

    This is how Heffley acts throughout the rest of book one, constantly treating Jefferson like he's worthless and acting like a stuck up snob. He consistenly tries to get through life making everyone around him work, and trying his best to fly under the radar and not lift a finger. He treats all his classmates around him like he is a king, and then need to work for him. Greg Heffley views everyone around him as a moron. His behavior is awful, and his narration is worse. Greg Heffley is a terrible character, and should not be an influence to anyone.

-Miranda (a girl who has unfortuantly read every single book and page of Greg Heffley's narration)(and hated it all)(but would probably do it again)