The Chocolate War Language and Communication Quotes

What Jerry says is very different from what Jerry thinks in this moment. What do you think the coach would do if Jerry told him what's really on his mind? What stops Jerry from sticking up for himself? Is it sometimes better, or safer, to just keep quiet?

To the religiously inclined, this is highly offensive. But, Archie is making an interesting point, though it might or might not hold true in the case of Jesus. He's basically saying that anybody or anything can be made popular, if you put the right spin on it. He applies this principle to the chocolate sale with much success.

Again, we see Jerry saying something different than what's inside him. In this case, he's ashamed for staring, and he doesn't know how to explain it. How can he explain that he's staring because he's interested, even jealous?

Jerry is reading the world around him, taking even the graffiti as a personal message. These lines seem to be fitting questions to follow Do I dare disturb the universe?, the lines adorning Jerry's poster, the lines that inspire him to say "No" to selling chocolate.

It's obvious to the readers that Leon is not the least bit sorry for slashing Bailey with his pointer. For the kids in his class, who don't want to think their teacher is totally evil, and who are in the midst of a very confusing scene, the question is not so easily answered.

We don't know who sticks up for Bailey in the classroom. It took a lot of courage, and probably helped motivate Jerry to stand up for Bailey in his own way, by refusing to sell chocolates. His refusal is an attempt to defy the same system that is allowing Bailey to be abused by his teacher.

Brother Eugene is communicating his hurt and anguish by crying. This is just what Archie wanted. Making a teacher cry is beautiful in his book. Too bad he picked one of the nice ones. If he'd made Leon cry, we might even agree with him….

Poor Jerry. He finally gets his crush, Ellen Barrett, on the phone, and she doesn't even believe it's him. He can't even manage to explain it to her. There's a complete communication disconnect.

We never find out who puts up this poster. For readers, it's a positive sign. People are getting behind Jerry! But to The Vigils, it's an obvious sign that their authority is being seriously challenged.

This is what Jerry wants to tell The Goober but he can't. We aren't sure if this is because he's passed out, or because he can't voice the words. Either way, it's a grim sentiment, which we hope Jerry revises in the future. Do you think this is really the message the that Cormier wants to tell us?