Why is it that competition can bring out the worst in people? Athletic contests go from simple scrimmages to full-on high stakes fights to the death, rival teams prank each other, and participants will stop at nothing to destroy the opposite team. Or so it goes in Jellicoe Road, anyway. The territory wars may have begun as an innocent way to pass the time one pretty boring September, but the present day incarnations of the factions have transformed it into something warlike and bloodthirsty. So stay sharp.
Questions About Competition
- Webb originally created the territory wars as a game. How do you think the game evolved from something friendly to something hostile? Turn to the book for support.
- Why does Taylor take the job of Underground Community leader? What is her primary motivation?
- How does the relationship between the faction leaders change over the course of the story? How do Taylor, Jonah, and Santangelo restore the territory wars to Webb's original intentions?
Chew on This
Webb's absence ultimately caused the transformation of the territory wars from friendly to hostile competition.
The purpose of the territory wars ultimately changes from a battle among the three factions to a way to form relationships and community—but only because members of each faction do some serious soul searching.