The Chocolate War
Summary
Groundbreaking for its unflinching portrayal of teenage life and examination of power dynamics, The Chocolate War has become a classic in young adult literature. Set in a fictional Catholic high school, Robert Cormier's 1974 novel explores themes of corruption, cruelty, and courage through the story of Jerry Renault, a freshman who dares to challenge the status quo. The Chocolate War has received numerous accolades, including being named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and a New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year. It was adapted into a film in 1988.
Plot
Set in the early 1970s, The Chocolate War follows Jerry Renault, a freshman at Trinity, an all-boys Catholic high school. Jerry is coping with his mother's recent death and existential questions when he's recruited for the school's football team. He befriends Roland “The Goober” Goubert, another freshman player.
The story revolves around the school's annual chocolate sale fundraiser. Brother Leon, the ambitious acting headmaster, commits to doubling the previous year's sales. He enlists the help of Archie Costello, leader of The Vigils, a secret student society known for playing cruel pranks. Archie assigns Jerry the challenge of refusing to sell chocolates for 10 days. However, inspired by a quote in his locker, Jerry maintains his refusal beyond the assigned period.
Jerry's defiance initially gains him respect from his peers. However, it soon threatens both Brother Leon and The Vigils' authority over the student body. Under pressure from Leon, Archie turns The Vigils against Jerry. They organize a campaign of harassment, including bullying, prank calls, and vandalism. Jerry's only remaining friend is The Goober, who offers little protection.
The conflict culminates in a boxing match between Jerry and the school bully, Emile Janza, orchestrated by Archie. The fight, held on the football field and watched by all students, ends when a teacher cuts the power. In the darkness, Jerry is severely beaten. Half-conscious, he confides to The Goober that he should have complied and not “disturbed the universe.” Though Archie is caught, Brother Leon intervenes, praising him for the successful chocolate sales and hinting at future collaboration.
Themes
• Corruption and abuse of power
• Conformity vs individuality
• The consequences of defiance
• Peer pressure and mob mentality
• Loss of innocence
• The struggle between good and evil
• The price of standing up for one's beliefs
Setting
Set in the early 1970s,
The Chocolate War unfolds against the backdrop of an era marked by social upheaval and changing attitudes towards authority. The novel captures the zeitgeist of a time when young people were increasingly questioning established norms and institutions.
The story takes place in a fictional New England town, focusing primarily on Trinity, an all-boys Catholic high school. This insular setting serves as a microcosm of broader societal power structures, with the school's hierarchy mirroring larger systems of control and conformity.
Within Trinity's walls, key locations include the school's corridors, classrooms, and athletic fields. The protagonist's locker, adorned with a thought-provoking poster, becomes a symbolic space for introspection. The football field, typically a place of camaraderie, transforms into an arena of conflict, underlining the novel's themes of power and resistance in seemingly ordinary environments.
Characters
• Jerry Renault: The protagonist, a freshman at Trinity High School. Jerry refuses to participate in the school's chocolate sale, challenging the corrupt system. He faces intense pressure and bullying but remains defiant until the end. Jerry grapples with existential questions following his mother's death.
• Archie Costello: The manipulative leader of The Vigils, a secret society at Trinity. Archie masterminds cruel assignments for students and plays power games with school authorities. He orchestrates Jerry's downfall when his defiance threatens the established order. Archie is cunning, arrogant, and lacks empathy.
• Brother Leon: The ambitious and corrupt acting headmaster of Trinity. He pressures students to sell chocolates while colluding with The Vigils to maintain control. Brother Leon abuses his authority and is willing to exploit students for personal gain.
• Roland “The Goober” Goubert: Jerry's friend and fellow freshman. The Goober is a talented football player who tries to support Jerry but ultimately cannot protect him. He struggles with guilt over not doing more to help.
• Emile Janza: The school bully who becomes a tool for The Vigils. Janza physically assaults Jerry and participates in the final boxing match. He is cruel and enjoys inflicting pain on others.
• Obie: Archie's reluctant assistant in The Vigils. He grows increasingly disillusioned with Archie's methods but remains complicit. Obie represents the struggle between conscience and conformity.
• Carter: The president of The Vigils who often clashes with Archie. He attempts to curb some of Archie's excesses but ultimately defers to his leadership.
Quick facts
• The Chocolate War was Robert Cormier's first young adult novel, written when he was 49 years old.
• Published in 1974, The Chocolate War was both hailed as groundbreaking and deemed controversial due to its sexual content, strong language, violence, and view of religion.
• As Cormier has shared, the story was partly inspired by his son's experiences selling chocolates for a school fundraiser.
• The book's title is a play on “The Trojan War” from Greek mythology.
• The novel's famous quote “Do I dare disturb the universe?” comes from T.S. Eliot's poem “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock."
• The Chocolate War was ranked #3 on the American Library Association's list of Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books for 2000-2009.
• Cormier wrote a sequel called Beyond the Chocolate War, published in 1985.
• In 1988, The Chocolate War was adapted into a film, directed by Keith Gordon and starring John Glover and Ilan Mitchell-Smith.
• The Chocolate War won the Margaret A. Edwards Award in 1991 for its lasting contribution to young adult literature.
About the author
Robert Edmund Cormier
Robert Edmund Cormier (1925-2000) was an acclaimed American author of young adult novels. His books often featured realistic portrayals of adolescent struggles, including bullying, abuse, betrayal, mental illness, and violence, earning him a reputation as a brilliant and uncompromising writer. His best known works include The Chocolate War (1974), I Am the Cheese (1977), and After the First Death (1979).
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Born in Leominster, Massachusetts, Cormier began writing at an early age and pursued a career in journalism before becoming a full-time novelist. Even as his fame grew, he continued to write for his local newspaper, the Fitchburg Sentinel. Though his works frequently incited controversy, Cormier's unflinching approach to difficult subjects earned him critical acclaim and numerous awards, including the prestigious Margaret A. Edwards Award in 1991.