The Chocolate War

The Chocolate War

by

Robert Cormier

Summary:

 Jerry Renault has just lost his mother to cancer and is beginning his freshman year at Trinity school, an all boys Catholic school. He is trying out for the football team.

The Assistant Head Master of Trinity, Brother Leon, has doubled the quota and selling price of the annual chocolate sale, designed to raise money for the school. He asks Archie Costello, an important member of The Vigils, an underground but very influential student organization, to assist in the sale. Archie is concerned about his grade in Leon’s class, so he agrees.

Archie’s job as the "Assigner" for The Vigils is to pick students to perform absurd tasks. Because the group is so powerful everyone always does what The Vigils demand. Archie chooses Jerry Renault for an assignment refusing to sell chocolates for ten days. The Vigils have a black box which holds five white marbles and one black marble. Archie must choose a marble after each assignment. If he chooses the black marble, he must perform the task himself. He has never chosen black.

After ten days of refusing to sell chocolates Jerry continues to refuse because he does not agree with the sale, which is supposedly voluntary. His actions inspire other students to do the same, as most students never wanted to sell the chocolates to begin with. Sales are doing very poorly and Leon says that Archie better do something about it because he promised the support of The Vigils.

Archie and The Vigils transform the chocolate sale into something popular in the school and soon everyone becomes involved. Archie secretly terrorizes Jerry by calling him at all hours and laughing on the phone. He then makes Emile Janza call Jerry queer and beat him up. Emile brought some friends with him to hurt Jerry as well. Jerry is hurt very badly after the fight.

Archie calls Jerry and tells him there is a way he can get even with Emile and that he should come to the football field that night. When Jerry arrives, the entire school has also come. They are told there will be a fight between Emile and Jerry. Archie is selling raffle tickets: each boy gets to write how they want Emile or Jerry to hit the other, the winning shot gets one hundred dollars and fifty boxes of chocolate.

Before the fight Obie, another Vigil who hates Archie, decides that Archie must draw two marbles from the box. Archie is mad but agrees. He draws two white marbles and is safe. The fight begins and the participants follow the instructions. Then a card is read that should have been declared illegal: a low punch to the groin for Jerry. Without thinking Emile attacks Jerry’s groin, as Jerry tries to defend himself the crowd is worked into a frenzy. Emile and Jerry fight freely. Jerry is badly, badly hurt.

The lights go out, but not before Obie sees Brother Leon watching from outside--Archie tipped off Leon, thinking he would enjoy the fight. Archie goes to investigate the lighting situation and finds Brother Jacques has turned out the lights to end the fight. As Jacques yells at Archie, Brother Leon comes to his rescue saying that boys will be boys.

As they wait for the ambulance, The Goober (Jerry’s friend) holds Jerry and tries to comfort him. Jerry tells The Goober to do whatever he is told and to never stand up for himself because it is not worth it.

Later, Archie and Obie discuss the events. Obie tells Archie that he will get his one day-that maybe the black box will work, or he will meet another kid like Reynolds.

Evaluation by genre:

This story is Contemporary fiction because this story could actually happen I know people whom have went through similar issues as the character did in this story. The characters seem very real.  I actually would not have none this was actually fiction if the book didn't tell me.

Motivational Activities:

·        Retell the story in your own word

·     Make out a short play acting out this story

·     Quote one of your favorite lines from the book

·     Compare some of the problems with situations at their own school and make inferences about your own lives and families.

·     Demonstrate your understanding of texts on four levels: factual, interpretive, critical, and persona

     Reader Response Questions:

1. What is the tone of the book so far? Think about the first sentence of the book why did the author use it?

2.      How would you define Jerry as a character?

3.      Who are Obie and Archie?

4.      What does this story have to do with chocolate? Why is the title chocolate war?

 Personal Comments:

This story highlights the fact that sometimes life is not fair and that people sometimes find themselves in situations that they cannot control. All the characters have flaws and many are outright mean. Brother Leon and Archie are very much alike. They are controlling, manipulative, self-centered, and cold hearted. This book, deals with life's cruelty, and deals with complex issues with intensity. Evil in all its ugliness pervades the story, which Robert Cormier sets in a private Catholic school, presenting evil as something that can invade even our own protected lives. The overall setting of the Chocolate War is vague so the reader can easily imagine that it can take place anywhere and at any time. The book has a great plot but at some parts are a bit “down” and depressing. The main and minor characters are described in detail and you can really feel like you know them. Their connections and interactions are clear and help to build the story and move it along. Unfortunately the book is a bit confusing at times. The writing is simple but there are a lot of descriptions and people to remember. 

Only a few villains cause all the mayhem, and the book exposes them early. However, Cormier won't spare us from life's nasty truths. Readers might wonder, "Would any of us have done better, or would we make the same easy compromises as Cormier's characters?" For that reason, this book remains relevant: It forces readers to face the reality of evil, and examine how to confront it.

Biographic Info:

Cormier, Robert. The Chocolate War. New York: Alfred A Knopf, 1974.