The Chocolate War focuses on a freshmen named Jerry Renault, and his problems at Trinity. Trinity is a prestigious school run by Brother Leon, the school headmaster. Brother Leon runs a school chocolate sale every year in the fall and it usually lasts about two months. The vigils are a secret group at Trinity led by Archie Costello. When Jerry refuses to participate in the school chocolate sale the Vigils take offense. As a result the Vigils psychologically and physically destroy Jerry Renault. Because of Jerry's refusal to conform he gets beaten by the school bully.

Robert Cormier shows the consequences of standing up for what you believe in and his feelings towards conformity through his great use of character and plot.

The main character in The Chocolate War is Jerry Renault. Jerry is the unfortunate young adult who suffers the consequences of standing up for what he believes in. Every morning Brother Leon would read the roll call off and every morning Jerry would reply "NO"(67). Cormier uses Jerry as the victim of the story, who gets harassed over and over again. He is described as "Poor Renault"(86). Cormier makes the reader feel sympathy for Jerry Renault and makes it so the reader can identify with the suffering that Jerry is being confronted with. We are made aware that Jerry's Constant refusal to conform gets him nothing but trouble. Through Jerry, Cormier portrays his feelings towards standing up for what you believe in and the consequences of what you might suffer to do that.

The plot of The Chocolate War causes a strong feeling of sympathy from the reader. The events that occur in the plot of the novel are very shocking. Cormier does an excellent job of using plot to show his feelings towards standing up for what you believe in and the consequences that may occur from it. Critic Paul Ettenson states that "Cormier's work portrays adolescents who confront evil"(256).

The plot of The Chocolate War is centered around a boy named Jerry Renault. Jerry is attending his first year at Trinity Prep. High School. His first year becomes a horrible year for him. One incident that gives insight into the consequences of standing up for what you believe in was during football practice. "Come on Renault, get up", is all Jerry hears after being struck blow by blow from his teammates(138). Cormier uses this incident to show what is beginning to happen to Jerry when he stands up for what he believes in. Jerry begins to wonder and asks himself " Do I dare disturb the universe"(138).

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Approximate Word count = 1436
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)