The Chocolate Wars pg. 100-200

This entry will contain both the CPB entry for this day as well as the fleshed out specifics examined for today's class. I'm really intrigued by the dynamic between Jerry and Brother Leon. When I first read the part where Jerry began refusing the chocolates, I didn't make the connection between Jerry's resilience and his assignment note from the Vigils. I figured it was some kind of decision that he had made himself because he remembered what the hippie had told him earlier in the book: "You're missing a lot of things in the world, better not miss that bus" (21).

At that point, I caught the lesson that Jerry did not want to be a conformist, but when it came to Jerry's resistance, I was applying the lesson to the wrong event. Jerry's true rebellion lies in his continuing to refuse to sell the chocolates even though his Vigil assignment had him accepting them by day ten.

I was surprised by the fact that Leon was more surprised and angered by the rebellion than the Vigils were. Archie didn't get angry because of Jerry's defiance until Obie faces him with it. Leon becomes more of an ominous figure after every page, particularly once the reader finds out why he is so desperate to get the money. Jerry runs the risk of punishment from either the Vigils or Brother Leon. I'm just wondering which gives in and seeks vengeance first.

Questions: What role does Ellen Barrett play in the story? Maybe I haven't gotten to a point where this is explored in the narrative, but I find it hard to believe that she is just a passing love interest for Jerry. Maybe Jerry's interactions with her is to prove he finally has the courage that he would need to hold his ground against his enemies, like he reflects on page 168: "He was still buoyant when he arrived home, otherwise, he wouldn't have had the courage to call all those Barretts and to actually talk to the girl."

This will be the question I want to flesh out a little more in class. Jerry seems to treat girls in general in a different manner than the other men in the story. While the other boys pay attention to the physical traits of women that they see, Jerry's observations are based on their beauty. I'm not sure if it has to do with his feelings of respect for the women or if it has to do with his inexperience. There are more occurrences of the other boys engaging in ogling and masturbation than there are of Jerry doing it. And the fact that he throws away that Playboy in the beginning still strikes me as important.

The objectification of women in the book is something to explore from this point on. I think it could be said that the behavior in this school would be drastically different if there was more mental female influence rather than just a lusty presence.

vIgiL MeEtinG tWO-THirTy - it's cool that the note with the newspaper and magazine cut out letters was actually spelled out for the reader. It lets you feel the disturbing quality of finding a note like that.