The opening chapters are rich with biblical references. Jerry's habit of thinking one thing while expressing another is compared to Peter's denial of Jesus before the Crucifixion: "he had been Peter a thousand times and a thousand cocks had crowed in his lifetime." Chapter 2 swiftly sets the scene at a Catholic school, where students regularly partake in confession and communion. Observing the football field, Obie likens the shadows of the goalposts to empty crucifixes. Reflecting on this imagery, Obie thinks, "That's enough symbolism for one day," and Cormier does not further explore the religious theme for the remainder of the novel.