How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
That's what baffled everyone about Archie – his changes of mood, the way he could be a wise bastard one minute and a great guy the next. (2.24)
Archie's knows how to project different identities for different effects. He can change identities, chameleon-like, to fit any situation.
Quote #2
[Archie:] "Don't you think I'm human, too?" […] I'm not sure. That's what Obie almost said. (2.40)
"Human" in this context, refers to being a good person, having feelings, etc. Obie is questioning whether Archie has any positive human characteristics.
Quote #3
"You know who's sub-human, man? You. You are. Going to school every day. And back home on the bus. And do your homework." (3.17)
The random hippie/drifter guy at the bus stop is pretty judgmental for a free thinker, and has probably faced lots of judgment for living an unconventional life by 1970s standards. He's arguing that Jerry's life is totally mechanical, that Jerry is cut off from the spontaneous side of life.
Quote #4
He looked like a henpecked husband, a pushover, a sucker. […] But all this was deceptive. In the classroom Leon was another personal altogether. Smirking, sarcastic. (4.11)
Brother Leon's appearance doesn't jive with his personality. Or does it? Could be that he's powerless in every other aspect of his life, so he takes it out on his students, the only people who will put up with it. Or maybe he treats everybody like this. What do you think?
Quote #5
Even his thoughts became sharper, and things were simple and uncomplicated – he could solve math problems when he ran, or memorize football plays. (9.1)
Running is a huge part of The Goober's identity. It's seems completely positive. When he's running, his mind and body are in harmony and he feels good about himself.
Quote #6
He didn't want to be a mirror of his father. The thought made him cringe. I want to do something. Be somebody. But what? But what? (9.32)
Jerry is very afraid of never finding his own identity, that his father's identity will somehow be foisted on him. Saying "No" to the chocolates is his way of trying on a new identity and seeing if it fits.
Quote #7
The Goober was depressed, thinking about school spirit. Ever since Room Nineteen had collapsed, he lived in a mild state of shock. (13.9)
The Goober's part in the destruction of Room Nineteen is wreaking havoc on his identity. He feels like a bad guy and doesn't know how to turn things back to the way they used to be.
Quote #8
And he did see—that life was rotten, that there were no heroes, really, and that you couldn't trust anybody, not even yourself. (16.48)
David Caroni feels that Brother Leon forced him into acting against his will, in order to preserve his identity as a good student, which is obviously important to him. Unless David finds a way to deal with this, and unless he meets some good people, he might just turn out to be a total cynic.
Quote #9
The boys have become infected, Cochran. Infected by a disease we could call apathy. A terrible disease difficult to cure. […] In this case, the cause is known. The carrier of the disease is known. (22.35, 22.37)
Brother Leon is thinking of Jerry as something contagious and diseased. He probably thinks of all his students in such bizarre terms. His vision of their identities is reflected in the way he treats them.