Do I Dare Disturb The Universe?

by Andrea Maylath

While reading the novel The Chocolate War, my English class pondered a question that appeared in the protagonist’s locker: Do I dare disturb the universe? Jerry Renault, a freshman at an all-boys Catholic School, must make a choice between complying with a corrupt chocolate sale or defying the tradition. Students were tasked to recreate the poster in Jerry’s locker using symbols to illustrate the power dynamics at play and internal conflict Jerry experiences. 
Here, eighth-graders Elijah Blaustein and Blake Kellerman depict their interpretation of the question Do I dare disturb the universe? In his description, Elijah explains how the teachers and an all-powerful group named The Vigils are like “a power Jerry can’t combat” at Trinity (represented as the sturdy building); however, “Jerry eventually perseveres through the struggle and torment” and decides against participating in the chocolate sale tradition (shown as the wrecking ball on the brink of demolishing the structure).

In Blake’s interpretation, he chose to depict Jerry’s fellow students as dogs with the dog eating chocolate representing “the students that are selling the chocolates and doing what the school wants them to do.” Facing the opposite direction, and toward the figure representing Jerry are “the students that are getting impacted by what Jerry is doing by disturbing ‘the universe.’” High in the sky is a moon shining down to represent the teachers and Vigil’s watchful eyes. Allowing students to demonstrate their understanding of this pivotal moment in the novel through visual representations has created opportunities for deeper interpretations and rich discussions.
Back