The Chocolate War Character Analysis

As a highschool freshman it is hard to get comfortable in a new building, especially standing up against your high school. Arguably most freshman’s or maybe even none wouldn’t. But accordingly a character from the story The Chocolate War written by Robert Cormier goes by the name Jerry Renault stands up against his high school classmates and administrators. He stands up for doing stuff they did not want to do but were forced too. For instance, in the story Trinity High a all boys Catholic School, is forced every year to sell 50 boxes of chocolates for the school. Being administered by Brother Leon a teacher who now takes responsibility for the headmaster who had got ill. Brother Leon seems to proclaim the funds for the chocolates is for a good cause but Brother Leon wants to take over the Headmaster so to impress the board he forces kids to sells boxes of chocolates. This proves that Brother Leon is confirmed as a demagogue.

A demagogue is a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and

prejudices rather than by using rational argument. Jerry stands up to Brother Leon to give students decisions and be comfortable in Trinity. Sadly at the end Jerry gets beaten up again and loses his spirit in standing up for himself. Now the book is not saying we should give up or that you will get beaten up, but it shows how much strength and spirit Jerry needed to stand up and stop Leon. Abuse of power can put people in harm, damage anyone in some sort of organization etc.

For this reason I believe the abuse of power is something to be aware with.

It’s a good cause and a big image of standing up against a demagogue. But sometimes that such “hero” is either successful or faces consequences that can put his life in danger. Even in today's life we deal with demagogues. For an example The Election almost everyone this year didn’t want to vote for these ridiculous candidates running for presidency but you are forced to vote. Adolf Hitler is another one. Making fake posters and rumors about how evil jews are fooling the germans. And made a video that the constitution camps were a great place and a fun place to play and live for the Jews and that they were fine while they were all being mistreated and dying slowly. One more is Fidel Castro. He became a dictator in Cuba who is now dead but before when he was alive he forced everyone to be his slave and made sure to make people think Cuba is a great place and Castro is a great

leader.

Consequently demagogues we should stand up too. It’s like that one annoying bully in school. For Jerry he refuses to sell the chocolates and everyone in wonder how he isn’t scared he said that to Brother Leon. In summary everyone starts to follow along slowly and Brother Leon is furious and calls Jerry a “disease in the school”. Also ruining the reputation of The Vigils. As a result, Jerry gets bullied a lot, so much hatred, and at the end loses his spirit standing up to being an individual telling Goober to”don’t be an individual”. It’s sad the author puts a sad ending but furthermore the book teaches us it’s difficult to be powerless and trying to stop someone with power.

In conclusion, demagogues affect us as our daily lives but we just encourage ourselves with “we can’t have everything we want”. And we take it as normal but they are here but they don’t affect us a lot except back in the days.