The Chocolate War
Robert Cormier
Person Vs. Society
In the book Jerry has a poster in his locker "Do I dare disturb the universe" Well He refuses to sell the chocolates at his school which isn't a big deal but when he challenges the secrect society called the Vigils which he goes against students, and a teacher that is corrupt in the book. Jerry faces corruption from not only the teacher but The Vigils which shows how an all boy school was in this book.
Characters
Jerry Renault- He refuses not to sell the chocolates. He takes on some of the biggest bullies in school. He doesnt complain or rat out the people that make his life hard. Instead deals with it. His mother passes away. His actions speak louder than his words.
Archie Costello- Is very cruel to the students in his school. He is feared by alot of the students and gets away with his evilness basicly anything he does. Uses Brother Leon as protection. Is another cruel character in this book. He thinks manipulating people is fun.
Obie- Is the secretary of The VIgils. He doesn't like what the Vigils do or what Archie does as well. He also hates Archie with passion. He feels sorry for Jerry because his mother recently died and doesnt want him to get involved.
Brother Leon- Is a corrupted administrator of the school. He borrows unauthorized funds and spends them on chocolates. He comes to the vigils for help to cover up his act. Is evil just as Archie but an adult version of Archie. They notice there similarties and work as allies toward the end of the book.
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Rebel!
Setting
The setting of this book is in two locations. One being Trinity School which is an all boys school and sometimes in Jerry's house.
Point of View
The point of view in this book is third person omniscient poin of view. To elbrate on this the narrator skips from character to character which he reveals some of the characters actions and thoughts.
"Was life that dull, that boring and humdrum for people? He hated to think of his own life stretching ahead of him that way, a long succession of days and nights that were fine, fine-not good, not bad, not great, not lousy, not exciting, not anything."
This quote allows us to see in Jerry's thought when Jerry rebels against The Vigils. After Jerry seeing his father he realizes that he doesnt want to be swept away in life like his fater was. This quote I think expresses the point of view which allows us to view the thoughts of a character.
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Plot Line
Exposition- Jerry stands up and refuses to sell the chocolates.
Rising Action- After the first 10 days the Vigils punish jerry for his decision not to sell the chocolates.
Climax- Jerry Fights Emile Janza for the chance to get back at everyone who has punished him for not selling the chocolates.
Falling Action- Jerry realizes thait is not worth it to disturb the universe after the boxing match between Emile Janza.
Resoultion- Jerry is badly hurt with a broken jaw and some other injuries. He tells his friend The Goober that it is not worth it to disturb the universe and jerry has no hope for the future because he says nothing about all the things he went through.
Themes
In the book jerry decides to disturb the universe but become a master of his own uniserve but the universe here is the world created by the school and The Vigils. The vigils are so powerful that everything has to go there way not anybody elses way. You get in the way jerry did will create huge waves if you dare disturb. The Vigils create there own universe that everybody must follow the rules that are set. Jerry comes along and disturbs there universe by his refusal to sell chocolates and because he does such a thing he shook awake other students to question the order The Vigils have created. Jerry doesn't last long and he soon becomes an outcast for doing such a thing. This makes the boxing match possible and the students cheer for fighting, even for jerry to be killed. This is a corrupt place where the set of rules are expected to be followed by every student. Like Archie said "You see, Carter, people are two things: greedy and cruel. So we have a perfect set up here. The greed part-a kid pays a buck for a chance to win a hundred. Plus fifty boxes of chocolates. The cruel part-watching two guys hitting each other, maybe hurting each other, while they're safe in the bleachers. That's why it works, Carter, because we're all bastards."
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Robert Cormier
Robert was born on January 17, 1925 in Leominster, Massachusetts. He went to Leominster high school and when he graduated he attend the University of Fitchburg State college in Massachusetts. He became a jounalist, and an author. He was a staff reporter for The Sentinel and Enterprise in 1955 till 1978. He first realized he wanted to become a writer was in 6th grade when he was encouraged to write a poem. His first short story was published when a college professor scent one of his short stories to the The Sign which which is cathlic magazine.He became an award winning journalist but since he was known he still wrote for his local newspaper. Robert Cormier died on November 2, 2000.
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Recommedations
I would recommend this book to young adults because i thought it was a very interesting book to read. For being a oung adult book it has alot of violence but alot of young people like a little violence in there books because it sparks there interest in the book. Well at least thats what i think because i thought since the book had a little violence then it would be fun to read. I think we all could learn something about this book because in this book it has alot of corruption well most of Roberts book are based off that and more themes. I think more males would enjoy this book then females nonless women are into these types of books.
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Quotes
"My name is Jerry Renault and I'm not going to sell the chocolates," he said to the empty apartment. The word and his voice sounded strong and noble."
I think that through out this whole book this is Jerry's strongest moment. This particular quote difines who Jerry is by refusing to sell the chocolates and because of this it defines who he really is. Unlike the end of the book he is happy that he is disturbing the universe.
"They tell you to do your thing but they don't mean it. They don't want you to do your thing, not unless it happens to be their thing, too. It's a laugh, Goober, a fake. Don't disturb the universe, Goober, no matter what the posters say."
In this quote this is the downfall of Jerry when hes talking to Goober the only true friend he has. After the horrible fight he takes everything back that he has done. When he was proud for being a rebel for not selling the chocolates was now forgotten and in the past. He tells Goober that the pride wasn't worth it because people like Archie beat you down and eventually make it impossible to aganist. Just for not selling the chocolates was an extreme thing to do but something like this could've gotten him killed for trying to determine his own fate but people like The Vigils are so powerful that Jerry is not a master of his own universe but is part of there universe. This is where the right people lose and the wrong people win.
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