Church

"Though they were kind to all of us, they monks took a special liking for Henry Dobbins. 'Soldier Jesus,' they'd say, 'good soldier Jesus'" (pg 114).

I hate to say it, but even though it's wrong to pick favorites, everyone does it. Even MONKS! Reminds me of a teacher's pet. Although it was a very long time ago, I was indeed the teacher's pet in the first grade! Good times... Anyways, it's sad to say, but people even pick favorite's in families: favorite aunt, favorite cousin, favorite sister, favorite nephew, etc. So the monks choose Dobbins. This special treatment makes him consider joining a monostary. I don't know if this is the Catholic church, or if it has the same concept, but he is the same guy that wears his girlfriend's pantyhose around his neck. In the Catholic church, you have to take a vow of chastity. So these two sides are contradicting. I'm not sure if this makes sense, but it is somewhat juxtaposing. It shows his love for a woman in one chapter, then his consideration of becoming a monk and secluding himself from women.