The Chocolate War

1. Stand up to the Mafia: The Chocolate War
2:  Book: The Chocolate War
                      Author: Robert Cormier  
    Date of Publication: 1974
                      Publisher: Dell Laurel-Leaf

3.         Attending Trinity High School as a freshman Jerry Renault has to live with the multiple intimidating confrontations with the school gang, the Vigils. Under the control of Archie Costello assignments are given to other students. Depending on the student, the assignment varies and usually has the intention of creating as much physical or psychological pain as possible. Jerry is given the assignment of having to sell chocolates in the annual school chocolate sale. The Vigils had made the commitment of fully supporting the chocolate sale. However Jerry dismisses the assignment he is gives and refuses to sell the chocolates. Due to the previous control the gang had over the students, many saw Jerry’s act extremely bold and heroic. When the Vigils heard of Jerry’s decision, they became outraged, there was no way a student had rebelled against them and the assignment given. The next day the Vigils held a meeting, and he once again refused to sell his share of chocolates. Among the other students, Jerry is a hero so they also consider and do not comply with their assignments.

The rate for the selling of chocolates collapses exponentially enraging the gang. Archie and Brother Leon then hold a meeting themselves and speak of the issue and recognize the fact that either they sell the chocolates or they are in some serious trouble. To not go bankrupt, the Vigils end up selling the rest of the chocolates themselves, sales skyrocket. They try to make it seem that those who do not comply and sell are the outcasts most importantly Jerry however it becomes obvious they are trying to save themselves. Over time the Vigils continue abusing Jerry making his life hell by trashing his locker, prank calling him repeatedly, varying his homework with others students’ homework, and beating him up after football practice. Jerry becomes depressed having to live with this entire ruckus and cannot believe what he is going through. Finally chocolate sales come to an end and everyone sold their chocolates with the exception of Jerry; so the Vigils decide they want to get back at him. The Vigils place him in an unfair boxing match with school thug Emile Janza. During the fight the Vigils direct when each other strikes, Jerry’s strikes not having much effect to Janza’s powerful punches shows how uneven a fight it was. Janza is then directed to hit Jerry in the groin however Jerry blocks the hit, Janza then goes on a rampage and repeatedly punches Jerry. At the end Jerry finishes with a broken jaw and is waiting for an ambulance with his friend Goober, and he tells him “not to disturb the universe—that it is not worth” reflecting that he has no hope for the future and neither Archie for his past. Jerry and his individualism was no more.

4. “Do not disturb the universe, it isn’t worth it” (Cormier 259)

5. This quote demonstrates the end of Jerry’s idea of being able to determine his own path. He showed no matter how hard he tried the Vigils are just too strong a force. The Vigils were able to determine his path. Jerry’s sense of self pride and doing the right thing had come to a terrible conclusion. The good feeling of being an individual eventually got to him to the point where he was beat up receiving serious injuries. Going against the person with the highest position being Archie with his idea of self pride proved to be no match.