The Chocolate War

Jerry questions himself about why he continues his refusal to sell the chocolates but finds no answers. He tosses and turns in bed and feels claustrophobic, as though he has been “buried alive” (114). This imagery terrifies him and he gets up, still thinking about why he refused to sell the chocolates He concludes that it was partly Brother Leon’s little cruelties but also something more. His choice shocks even himself. He thinks about how much he looked forward to saying “yes” to the chocolates, how the hatred would leave Brother Leon’s eyes, and how he would be a normal student again. He returns to bed, mulling over his choice, his father’s routine and dull life, the young man on the Common who insisted he was missing out, and a beautiful girl he noticed at the bus stop.

Jerry feels sick on the bus on his way to school and is surprised when another student praises him for his battle with Leon. The student is tired of fundraisers for the school, but he never thought of just saying no before. Jerry enjoys the student’s admiration but feels he doesn’t deserve it.

At school, The Goober asks Jerry why he changed his mind. Jerry says he doesn’t know. Goober predicts it will mean trouble, but as they walk through the halls, students praise him and tell him to keep it up. Goober begs Jerry to take the chocolates today, but Jerry says he is committed now to not taking them. At his locker, Jerry briefly ponders the poster he has hung up with the words “Do I dare disturb the universe?” from T. S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.” The words affect him, even though he does not understand why he chose this poster (117).

In class, he refuses the chocolates when his name is called, though he feels a deep and lonely sadness.

Every time Brother Jacque says the word “environment,” Obie and his classmates get up and dance around the room. The ritual, one of The Vigils’ assignments, has been going on for a week. Obie wonders why everyone, teachers and students alike, plays dumb about the pranks. He is tired of enabling success for Archie’s assignments, including getting a group of boys to help with the destruction in Room Nineteen.

Archie assures Obie that when Brother Jacques realizes what is happening, he will stop using the word “environment.” But after he uses it five times in 15 minutes and smiles as the boys struggle to continue their antics, Obie realizes that Jacques does the opposite. Someone told him about the prank, and he pranks them back for his amusement. When Archie smirks at Obie as he leaves the class, Obie knows Archie tipped off the teacher and wants revenge.

Trinity student Kevin Chartier is talking with his friend Danny Arcangelo about how hard it is to sell the chocolates. He tries to ignore his mother’s voice, which sounds like gibberish as she scolds him not to eat and talk at the same time. Kevin and Danny agree that Jerry Renault’s refusal to sell the chocolates is the right idea, but they wonder whether The Vigils will retaliate since the assignment ended.

Two other students, Howie Anderson and Richy Rondell, agree that Jerry Renault has the right idea about not selling chocolates as they ogle girls outside a drugstore. Howie says he will refuse, too. As junior class president, Howie’s refusal would be profound. Howie points out that Trinity persuades their parents to send them there by touting its reputation as one of the best schools around, but then it exploits them as salesmen. They consider calling a class meeting to tell everyone to stop selling but agree that it should be each student’s choice.

Archie waits for Obie in the gym. The smell of the place offends him because he cannot stand the smell or the thought of sweat. He knows Obie must hate him for choosing this meeting place, but thinks it is good if people hate him. Briefly, he worries about his low grades and about the pressure of producing new assignments for The Vigils all the time, which keeps him from going out to look at girls. Obie arrives and tells Archie that Jerry is still not selling the chocolates, which is a violation of his assignment. He was supposed to say “no” for 10 school days and then say “yes.” Archie shrugs this off, saying The Vigils are not involved in his decision. But Obie insists they are because they gave the initial assignment and reminds Archie that he told Leon The Vigils would help with the chocolate sale. Annoyed, Archie tells Obie to get the sales totals.

Brian Cochran tallies sales totals and notices a sharp decline. Sweating and nervous, he relays this information to Brother Leon, who asks him to read out the names of the students and their total sales. When he reaches “Renault” and his zero boxes, Brother Leon stops him. He says Jerry’s defiance infected the other students with apathy. He compares Jerry to a carrier of disease. Leon suggests they “cure” this disease and mutters the name “Renault” to himself over and over.

The Goober tells Jerry he is quitting the football team. Jerry demands to know why and Goober says Brother Eugene is on sick leave because of the Room Nineteen incident. They sit on the curb and Jerry dismisses the rumors about their teacher, but Goober insists that it was a cruel thing to do to him. Though he can’t explain the connection between Brother Eugene and quitting the football team, he feels Trinity is evil and he wants no part of it. He says cruelty there is like a game. Jerry says to let them have their fun, but Goober insists they crossed a line.

Jerry thinks he will miss the chance to see the girl he admires at the bus stop—he discovered her name is Ellen Barrett—but realizes he needs to support his friend at the moment. Goober makes one more attempt to get Jerry to sell the chocolates, and Jerry tells him to play football, but both firmly refuse.