Robert Cormier Heroes Chapter Analysis

The novel, 'Heroes' is written by Robert Cormier and was published in 1998. It is set in Frenchtown, America, between 1940 and 1945, during the Second World War and explores the themes of guilt, compassion and heroism. It is about Francis Cassavant, who desires revenge from his relationship with his friend Larry LaSalle. The plot creates tension and suspense and explores how and why Francis has returned from the Second World War to kill Larry.

At the beginning of Chapter One, Robert Cormier introduces Francis Cassavant in Frenchtown. He comes back from the horrific war with a disfigured physical injury. As a first-person narrator, Francis seems very open and matter-of-fact about his disfigurement, “the war is over

and I have no face.” Despite, his stark and brutal description of this injury, it shows his shocking appearance very quickly. The metaphor, ‘I have no face,’ suggests that Francis doesn’t want to show his identity, towards the townsfolk. He wants to hide his appearance because he is determined to accomplish his mission; to kill Larry LaSalle. This encourages the reader to read on and find out what has happened to Francis. This surprising statement reinforces a mystery like sense to the reader’s mind.
When Francis goes to worship at a church, the reader gets confused again as he states, “I pray, of course, for Nicole Renard, wherever she may be.” This makes the reader think who Nicole Renard is, or why Francis no longer knows where she lives. Once again, this creates an enigma to the story. Cormier has structured the novel in this way so that to extort the reader to find out how Francis, Larry and Nicole may be connected.
Besides this, Francis tells that he has “just prayed for the man he is going to kill.” In the first chapter of the novel, clearly both Larry LaSalle and Nicole Renard are going to be very important characters, as they are mentioned in the same chapter.

Francis’ feelings towards Larry are complicated, as he emphasises it as ‘religious feelings.’ Cormier has used the foreshadowing technique to create a dramatic tension in the novel. Therefore, it makes the reader intrigued. Later, we discover that Francis’s hatred of Larry is due to him raping Nicole. Francis feels guilty and ashamed for not stopping Larry’s unexpected action. As readers, we would sense sympathy for Francis as he was helpless to stop

Larry.
In Chapter Five, when Larry first arrives in Frenchtown, he is described as having “dazzling movie star teeth.” This symbolises Larry being initiated as glamorous, confident and attractive. Cormier compares him to a cinema screen as he appears very smartly towards the townsfolk. Therefore, it makes him a natural centre of attention. Francis clearly admires him as he got a unique talent for knowing the best of all. He looks up on Larry, as he has seen self-esteem and authority towards him. However, the word ‘dazzling’ can also show that his physical appearance can blind people, so they don’t know what is behind his cheerful smile. The phrase, ‘movie star’ adds to the sense that his views may hide his true personality. This leads to the reader an ignorant fact what his real personality may be, making it suspense to the story.

Furthermore, there is a sense of mystery about Larry, when he comes back from New York City. Cormier uses this technique of foreshadowing, throughout the novel. Before the rape, Larry used to be a star, a hero. His nobility helped children in the Wreck Centre, and they admired him. However, he physically and morally decays into a disgusting character as he savagely rapes Nicole, later in the novel.
Later in Chapter Five, Larry is presented as, “broad shoulders…an athlete and the narrow hips of a dancer.” The word ‘athlete,’ suggests that he is strong, controlling and physically fit. Despite being an ‘athlete,’ he is also a ‘dancer.’ This means that he is talented with his graceful movements. This seems ironic because before he goes to war, Larry can dance physically well. However, after coming back from the war, he loses his ability from his talent. Cormier uses the foreshadowing technique to show how Larry was brilliant before, and now how he physically loses his strength. Jealousy streaks through Francis Cassavant as Larry throw Nicole in the air. Cormier has used descriptive words because to present all the little details to the reader so that to hint what may happen next. As well as this, Larry is being compared to a tap dancer, “tap-dance with machine-gun speed.” The words ‘machine-gun ‘is a metaphor and suggests the speed of the gun. Furthermore, it could suggest and link to the horrific war-time period. Larry is compared to Fred Astaire, who is famous for tap dancing in the 1930s and 1940s. As readers, we are amazed by Larry’s gift of talents.
In Chapter Six, Larry is admired by the townsfolk as a ‘Silver Star’ hero. As a glamorous, youth leader of the Wreck Centre, Larry impresses the public. His public appearance conceals what his true personality is. His image may differ from his life as his evil impression is hidden under his handsome skin. However, this medal isn’t awarded by Larry himself. As readers, we know Francis is also rewarded for ‘heroism.’ Both Larry and Francis have been awarded this ‘Silver Star’ medal, for saving other soldiers. Larry does this by taking the machine-gun nest and Francis by falling on a grenade – the grenade that destroyed his face. He did this deliberately so that he could kill himself, but other people didn’t know about the suicide plan of Francis. They were unknown about it. Once again, this creates a climate in the story. This impresses the people in Frenchtown, but Francis doesn’t want to be recognized as a ‘hero.’ He wants to remain anonymous because he desires revenge by killing Larry LaSalle.
When Francis was winning the table-tennis match, Larry expresses his true happiness for him. The reader is surprised: “my ambition for you, Francis…is to have you beat me.” Regardless of him being a ‘Silver Star’ hero, he helps Francis to win so that Francis could be seen as a hero in everyone’s eyes. Larry is very obsessed as he has control over other people. Therefore, he is highly manipulative towards Francis. He motivates Francis to believe his words so that to build a trustworthy relationship. Cormier reveals that even fake heroes can have a positive value in society.
In Chapter Eleven, when Larry comes back from the celebrations of his return, he sexually assaults Nicole, at the Wreck Centre. As the incident happens, Francis feels disgust and betrayal by Larry. He couldn’t stop Larry’s unexpected action towards Nicole. Cormier portrays Larry LaSalle as a villain when he is “whistling softly...” It resembles that Larry doesn’t regret raping Nicole. This makes the reader think that Larry is proud of his deed. Therefore, he doesn’t show any pettiness. This is ironic because later in the novel, Larry confesses to Francis that “you were just a child…” He makes Francis feel guilty. Once again, this tells that Larry doesn’t show sorrow towards Nicole.

Later in Chapter Eleven, when Francis meets up with Larry, Larry doesn’t show any regrets of what he has done. He expresses his sexual desire for young girls (“sweet young things”) as love. The word ‘things,’ is a plural, making it clear that Nicole was not his first victim. He has already rape many girls before. Cormier has used graphfically words to show all the details that happened, resulting the reader feeling too upset or too shocked about it. It makes them disturbed by it, therefore leadership is reduced. As well as this, Larry says, “we love our sins. We love the thing that makes us evil.” This indicates that there is a darker side to what ‘love’ can mean to different people. Larry tries to defend himself: he is seemed delude about the damage which he has caused. As readers, this is seen unnatural because it is strange to love your sins. This links back to Chapter Five, when Larry first arrives in Frenchtown as he comes back from New York City. Cormier has structured the novel this way so that to show how he was dashing before and now how he physically decays into an unexpected character.
Ironically, as Francis confronts to Larry LaSalle, he is presented as a shadow of his former self. To the reader, their secrets are revealed, for instance Francis wants to be a hero. Similarly to Larry, he is ambivalent to his heroism, “I am not a hero.” Francis tells to Larry that he admits felling on the grenade because he wanted to die. Francis didn’t want his family reputation to be ruined because of him. However, Larry makes Francis feel better about him; right to the end, by convincing Francis that his motives in throwing himself on the grenade were heroic. Francis already takes the gun out of his pocket, suggesting that he is very desperate to kill himself. But, Larry stops Francis from shooting him. He says “No more sweet young things. No more anything” telling that no more girls are in his life anymore. He is inscrutable of his act that shouldn’t happen. This is ironic as Larry never expresses a sense of guilt over the crimes he committed. Therefore, Larry prevents Francis becoming a murder, but instead shoots himself. This is because Larry wants to protect his own reputation of ‘heroism,’ by killing himself with shame.
At the end of the novel, when Francis visits Nicole for forgiveness, Nicole is seen as a goddess, “you weren’t to blame for what happened…” Nicole has shown her agelect face – her pure and innocent face, as she accepts his apologise. However, Francis forgiveness was taken in an understated way. Francis thinks he fail to protect Nicole from Larry, therefore he tries to end his life again. He still feels guilty and angry of what Larry has caused.
Despite Nicole forgiving his mistake, she calls Francis as, “My good Francis.

My table tennis champion. My Silver Star hero…” As a first-person narrator, Nicole evinces that Francis will always be a hero to her. She never seems to quite hero worship Larry that same way the Francis does, therefore there is a hint that she starts to feel that way about Francis, as she loves her. In addition, Nicole tells Francis that he should try to write through what he has experienced. She has given wisdom that enables him to find a way to survive the experiences of his……….

Cormier…………………………………………………………..
In conclusion, Francis and Larry have a strong relationship, at the start of the novel, however they relationship gets ruined, as Larry awfully rapes Nicole. Larry and Francis were seen as heroes, but later their heroism gets destroyed. This suggests that they physically or morality decline. Cormier portrays heroes as not being discerned by known soldiers. But, by the unrecognised soldiers, as they didn’t receive the ‘Silver Star’ medal.