The Chocolate War Choices Quotes

Even though Archie seems like the guy with the most power at Trinity, he is little more free to make his own choices than his fellows. If he doesn't keep coming up with assignments, his whole charade will fall apart. He's so busy with this task, other areas of his life, like romance and schoolwork, are neglected.

Here we see Obie in a rare, sensitive moment. He wants Archie to choose not to select Jerry for assignments, citing the recent death of Jerry's mother. But, Archie isn't swayed by such sentimentality.

Nobody really thinks Brother Leon's torture of Gregory Bailey is funny. They are manipulated into laughing by Brother Leon's acting skills. Jerry is trying to figure out why he and the others chose to go along with it.

When Emile Janza realizes that students will choose self-preservation and freedom from conflict over money, he decides to exploit this to the fullest.

Jerry's choice is empowering. He has decided what to do with his own life, and his own body. When this strange concept begins to spread among the student body, Brother Leon and the Vigils realize it could threaten their whole operation.

This comment to Jerry from an unnamed student on the bus shows us just how big a deal Jerry's refusal is. It also shows us how thoroughly students have been discouraged from independent thought and action.

At the end of the novel, Jerry thinks he's made the wrong choice when he tries to disrupt the system of domination found at Trinity. Perhaps on further reflection he'll see that some of his other choices (succumbing to desire for revenge, not organizing) are at the root of his failure.

The Goober is following Jerry's lead. He realizes that anything he gives to Trinity will contribute (however indirectly) to the power structure in place.

Archie has manipulated Jerry and Emile into making the wrong choices. They realize this when they get to the raffle, but can't see a way to reverse their decisions.