Part 2, Chapter 5 Summary

Chapter 5 -- The Fight: The narrator introduces this chapter with an extended commentary on the necessity for fighting and its being an unarguable aspect of human nature. Narration then recounts how Tom got into a fight with a bigger, older boy named Williams following a classroom incident in which Williams threatened to beat Arthur, who in his mind had been too smart for his own good. The fight is conducted with all the formality of a professional boxing match, with each fighter having a trainer and other assistants in his corner. East acts as Tom's trainer, giving him advice on how he should fight - using speed and agility to avoid the worst of Williams' blows and wear Williams out so that his own attacks have more effect.

For the first couple of rounds East's advice falls on deaf ears as...