How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
The way he could dazzle you with his brilliance […] and the way he could disgust you with his cruelties, those strange offbeat cruelties of his, that had nothing to do with pain or violence but were somehow even worse. (2.16)
Obie is suggesting that psychological violence is worse than physical violence. Is one worse than the other? Why, or why not?
Quote #2
He could hold your attention like a cobra. Instead of fangs, he used his teacher's pointer, flicking out here, there, everywhere. (4.11)
In the 1970s, teachers still had legal power to use physical violence in the classroom. Leon makes the most of this, using the pointer to keep his students in a constant state of fear.
Quote #3
[Brother Leon:] "You're a cheat, Bailey. And a liar." The words like whips. (6.47)
We all know that words are some heavy-duty weapons. Bailey defends himself, but he doesn't strike back at Leon's accusations.
Quote #4
Actually, Archie hated people like Janza even though he could admire their handiwork. People like Janza were animals. But they came in handy. Janza and the picture – like money in the bank. (7.21)
Archie hates almost everybody, which is how he justifies his actions to himself. Here, he makes a distinction between psychological violence, which he uses, and physical violence, which Emile is famous for. Do you think Emile is really worse than Archie? Why, or why not?
Quote #5
It was as if somebody dropped The Bomb. (11.12)
Comparing the destruction of Room Nineteen to an atomic bomb is a bit much, Archie, but we get the point. Even though nobody is physically hurt, the psychological impact of all the furniture falling apart is intense.
Quote #6
Watching girls and devouring them with your eyes—rape by eyeball—was something you did automatically. (21.23)
This comment is from the perspective of an extremely minor character, Howie Anderson. It raises some important questions. Can you hurt someone with your eyes? If Howie thinks it's OK to "rape" a girl with his eyes, would he draw the line at physical rape? We found this pretty scary. What do you think? Do all of the kids that go to Trinity turn out creepy?
Quote #7
Rollo's head snapped back – snap like a knuckle cracking – and he bellowed with pain. As Rollo lifted his hands to his face in tardy defense, Carter's fist sank sickeningly into his stomach. (27.19)
This is the first time we see physical violence in the novel – off the football field that is. The Vigils no longer find Archie's sick mind games an effective measure of controlling the students. The novel gets progressively more violent from this point.
Quote #8
Funny, somebody does violence to you but you're the one who has to hide, as if you are the criminal. (32.1)
Jerry raises an interesting point, one common to many victims of physical abuse. The topic is broad enough for a really intense research paper, or even a whole book. There's no easy answer, but powerlessness usually makes people feel ashamed. What are some other aspects of this?
Quote #9
"Jerreee…" (32.24)
When Jerry hears kids (perhaps Emile Janza and the other guys who beat him up), he realizes that he might not even be safe in his own home. Coupled with the incessantly ringing phone, the taunting kids erode his sense of personal security.
Quote #10
A new sickness invaded Jerry, the sickness of knowing what he'd become, another animal, another beast, another violent person in a violent world, inflicting damage, not disturbing the universe, but damaging it. (37.28)
Jerry did give in to a desire for violence. He wanted to physically punish Emile, and he delivered a blow and enjoyed it. This is a big part of why he feels so bad about things at the end of the novel. If he was seduced by violence in this instant, what's to stop him from committing other acts of violence? He might be asking himself this type of question.