The Chocolate War

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier, first published in 1974, is a novel that delves into the dark aspects of adolescence, authority, and conformity. Set in an all-boys Catholic high school called Trinity, the story centers around Jerry Renault, a freshman who defies the school’s two most powerful forces–the secret student group known as the Vigils, and acting Headmaster Brother Leon–by refusing to participate in the annual chocolate sale. Jerry’s act of defiance exposes the cruelty and manipulation at the heart of the school’s social and institutional hierarchy. The Chocolate War explores the costs of nonconformity and the power dynamics that govern teenage life. Cormier said in his 1997 Introduction to the novel that his son’s refusal to sell chocolates at his school’s annual sale “as a matter of principle” inspired him.

The Chocolate War stands out from typical young adult novels with simple moral lessons. It employs a pessimistic tone and realism to tell a story about the consequences of resisting mob mentality. It has been lauded, censored, and discussed since its publication, particularly because of its ambiguous and unhappy ending, which publishers urged the author to change. Cormier refused. He is now a leading author of young adult fiction. The novel is a classic of its genre for its thematic bravery and singular vision. It inspired a sequel, a movie adaptation, and countless positive reviews.

This guide uses the 2014 First Ember Edition, published by Random House.

Content Warning: This novel confronts issues such as bullying, psychological manipulation, physical violence, and the abuse of power; it also includes misogynistic language and anti-gay slurs. It critically examines individual rights and the impact of societal pressures on personal integrity, which may require discussion about the importance of fostering environments that encourage diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Plot Summary

Jerry Renault, a bright and athletic freshman at Trinity Catholic High School, is coping with philosophical and existential woes in the wake of his mother’s death. As Jerry and another freshman nicknamed The Goober try out for the football team, veteran students Archie and Obie watch. The two are members of The Vigils, an anarchic secret student society that hands out “assignments” to various students. Rumors suggest dire consequences for noncompliance. The results of the Goober’s assignment, removing screws from desks in Room Nineteen so they’d collapse when students sat down, traumatize him. He feels it was a cruelty to the teacher, who takes an indefinite leave of absence.

Each year, the student-athletes must sell chocolate to raise money for the school. Vice principal and interim headmaster, Brother Leon, declares his intention to double chocolate sales. In his overarching ambition to run the school, Brother Leon, with unauthorized funds, purchases additional chocolate to meet his goal. Nervous about failing, he fortifies his plan with aid from The Vigils, through Archie Costello.

Archie promises The Vigils’ help to Brother Leon. However, Brother Leon later embarrasses Archie over the Room Nineteen incident. Archie makes a special Vigils assignment for Jerry: He must refuse to sell any chocolate for the first 10 days of the fundraiser. Jerry, like the rest of the school, fears reprisals from The Vigils and agrees. Jerry’s refusal outrages Brother Leon until rumors that it is part of a Vigils assignment reach him. The Vigils have enough power that Brother Leon can only wait.

Jerry defies both Brother Leon and The Vigils when he continues his boycott past the initial 10 days. The prompt for his refusal mystifies him, but he considers two significant factors—a confrontation with a young man at the bus stop who called him “Square Boy” and said Jerry missed out by blind allegiance to rules and routines, and the line “Do I dare / Disturb the universe?” from “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T. S. Eliot (117). Some students praise Jerry for his defiance and nonconformity, and apathy about the sale spreads. The sale flounders and Brother Leon demands that Archie intervene. The Vigils send teams of students to sell chocolates and distribute sales credit so it appears each student has met his quota, except Jerry. They threaten Jerry to try to convince him to sell his chocolates.

Jerry continues in his chocolate embargo, so The Vigils—with Brother Leon’s tacit approval—terrorize Jerry. They bully him outside of school and during football practice. They convince everyone including teachers to pretend he is invisible at school. Pranks turn violent. The Vigils convince Emile Janza, the school bully, to attack Jerry after football practice. Everyone abandons Jerry because they fear reprisal from the Vigils. The Goober, who has his reasons for hating the Vigils, supports Jerry.

The book’s climax is a violent confrontation between Jerry and Emile Janza. Archie orchestrates the match and manipulates the two boys’ and the whole school’s participation. He reveals the rules of the match after each arrives. It is a “raffle,” where students pay to write down locations on the body where the two will hit each other. Brother Leon watches from afar but does nothing to stop the bloodshed. Jerry is clearly at a disadvantage, as most students stipulate that Emile dole out the punches. The rules also state that the boxers cannot defend themselves. An illegal punch to the groin prompts Jerry to attempt to defend himself. The crowd eggs Emile into a frenzy, and he breaks Jerry’s jaw and causes internal injuries. A teacher shuts off the electric lights on the football field to disperse the gathering.

The Goober remains with Jerry to wait for the ambulance. Jerry can’t speak but wants to tell his friend the momentous and deeply pessimistic message: Don’t disturb the universe. It’s not worth it. The last chapter of the novel indicates Archie gets away with the whole thing. His confidence grows because of Brother Leon’s endorsement.