There is something about being able to effect people with your words and never once having to get to a point where you throw a punch at them to get them do know you mean business. If there was ever a character that exemplified that notion, Archie Costello would have to be that person.
Archie, who is not the president of the Vigils, nor the principal of the school, gets more out of the people around him by just working people with words than Brother Leon or Carter (the actual president of the Vigils). With Leon, his words are just out loud threats that no one believes. It's something that the kids have become accustomed to, he makes threats and people just sort of shrugs them off. Then, there's Carter, who will punch you straight in the jaw if you don't do what he instructs. Classmates expect the physical force from him, the pain only being temporary. However, with Archie, he torments you with the way he approaches a topic, works through it, and specifically words the possible outcome, and never once does he have to lay a finger on you or threaten you. He is able to get in your head and that force - that pain - does not end quickly.
However, in chapter 25, a flaw in Archie's character is revealed. As Jerry has taken the anti-chocolate selling brigade to another level, we see that Archie and the rest of the Vigils are quite desperate to get Jerry to obey. Archie holds a meeting in the auditorium, where he then asks how many boxes students have sold. When he gets to Jerry, Jerry stands up and declares that he will not sell any chocolates. But, Archie, very calm, gives Jerry one more chance to sell chocolates and renew his school spirit, simply "asking" him to follow everyone else in roll-call the following morning.
This leaves Jerry with a very important decision, seeing that Archie is extremely desperate at this point. Will Jerry expose Archie's despairity?
Friday, November 30, 2007
Words, Not Fists
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comments:
I can admit that sometimes it's hard not to kick someone when they're already down. Sure, Jerry could easily expose Archie's despairity, but this goes back to the question proposed in the last post. What is there to gain in doing so? It would most definitely make Jerry feel like he was in control of "the universe", but is it necessary? Again, I will continue to question the purity of Jerry's motives, seeing as to how it is difficult to read a character without actually reading the book.
Post a Comment