The Chocolate War

Jerry Renault is a freshman at Trinity Catholic School for Boys. He soon learns that the entire school is run by a secret society called The Vigils. They dole out assignments to students that are intended to inflict mental and psychological pain. Jerry’s assignment is to refuse selling chocolates for ten days during the school’s annual chocolate sale. This forces him to be an outcast. Fresh from losing his mother however, he refuses to begin selling chocolates and decides to make his own decisions. This is one thing that he has complete control over. Jerry underestimates the amount of corruption and greed in his school. The Vigils are not taking his lack obedience lightly, and make his life a living hell, culminating in a school-wide ‘boxing’ match between Jerry and the toughest kid at school, Emile. Students give Emile specific punches to hit Jerry with, but soon, Emile decides to let his full fury out on Jerry, leaving him with a broken jaw and internal injuries.

The corruption of the school and the defiance by Jerry, are realities for many readers. There is a darker underbelly to many schools. Readers will be able to easily root for Jerry to rise above everyone at Trinity.

Chapter 5: What Makes a Book “Good”?

Theme

Many books end on a positive lighter note, not The Chocolate War. It’s Robert Cormier’s bluntness that will take readers by surprise. The theme of one good soul in a sea of corruption and evil, and overcoming all odds is quite popular. Readers will expect Jerry to do just that, however, the real world doesn’t work that way. Rarely do the good guys get the girl, so to speak. Instead, Jerry is beaten and the bad guys prevail. It is almost a breath of fresh air amid all of the happy ending novels out there. 

Cormier, R. (1974). The chocolate war: A novel. New York, NY: Pantheon Books.