Tony's passionate interest in religion continues. He is concerned about the salvation of the soul, and worries that his atheist friend Florence will go to hell. Tony and his friends attend the ritual of the Stations of the Cross. They get through the final week of catechism lessons and take a test. The boys quarrel following a mock-confession in which Tony acts as priest. Florence and Tony get beaten up by Horse. Over Easter, Tony is taken to church for his first confession.
Analysis
The saga of the education of a young Catholic continues. It is perhaps not surprising that the ultra-serious, priest-in-the-making Tony should be mercilessly teased by his less religious friends. The presence of Horse, Bones, and the others, who behave like normal boys do, is necessary for the novel, which otherwise would become weighed down by the seriousness of its themes.
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