The Chocolate War By Robert Cormier (The Black Box) The Chocolate War exposes a web of unsentimental power and control which, exerts bullying. This war was instrumented by both the adults and the students at a Catholic High School. The focus of this paper will surround the Black Box that controls Archie Costello, the Leader of a Mafia-like club (the Vigil) that has not only influence on students with its psychological tactics but the staff as well. I will discuss the effect this box has on Jerry Renault (Main Character) who is trying to fin his rightful place in this big ball of confusion Jerry is dealing with the lost of his mother, and a father who doesn’t seem to realize what he really needs. This paper will farther more cover and show how an ordinary desire for power and status can overwhelm ones moral senses, such as the tragedy follows Archie. Finally I will discuss the controversy that connects the Black Box to authority. Jerry Renault represented the opposition to the authority and the Black Box as a symbol of this authority.
Though Jerry was not physically strong, he was rather meek, he turned to be a morally strong and independently thinking individual. The main character attempted to break the universe of tyrants and losers and to question about its unfair orders and rules. Throughout the book Jerry faced the things which stimulated personal confrontation against violence, suppression and corruption: the main character had the poster Do I dare to disturb the universe? in his locker and; he refused to subjugate and sell chocolates in this way giving a good example for others to follow; Jerry also saw hippies and one of the hippies named his (Jerrys) main obstacle: Jerry was too overwhelmed with routine and he had no space for his personal freedom: Square boy. Middle aged at fourteen, fifteen. Already caught in a routine. Wow (Cormier, pg.
The Essay on Jerry Character Analysis from Chocolate War
Jerry's perseverance keeps him from selling the chocolates every day and giving up. First, when Jerry finds everything in his locker in shreds and does not give up and sell the chocolates, he shows his perseverance by not giving in and selling the chocolates. Instead of giving up instantly and going along with everyone else is doing, Jerry stays with it and does not give up, showing perseverance. ...
20).
Consequently the protagonist tried to resist the Vigils but the Black Box, as the means of control, serves to submit and break the will of Jerry: with the help of it Archie assigned to assault and intimidate Renault. For example, Emile Janza and his bully friends became the weapon in the hands of Archie, they injured and punished Jerry by his order. The antagonist of the book, Archie, used the black box to make assignments and thus to exercise and to strengthen the power of the authority of the Vigil. However, it should be noted that, the black box had a dual effect of Archie: it empowered him to manipulate and control other peers but at the same time it could consume and destroy him. So Archie deep in his sole was afraid of the suspense of the black box.
This was not groundless, however, because Archie did not have friends and his authority was based on hatred and contempt. This was the price the antagonist paid for gaining his leadership. It together with his misdeeds worked against Archie Costello one day. He took the black marble form the black box, which had never happened before, and this symbolized the end of his authority. Thus the book warns that tyranny is weak and greedy: it can be hit by ones strong will and independent thinking but at the same time it is ready to consume everyone, even it does not have mercy for its executors. As Obie said “Maybe the black box will work next time, Archie, … ‘Or maybe another kid like Renault will come along.’ Archie didn’t bother to answer.
Wishful thinking wasn’t worth answering.” (Cormier, 263) All in all, the Black Box in The Chocolate War symbolized the means of building and gaining authority but at the same time it demonstrated the power to destroy this authority. As it was noted above, the Black box enabled the protagonist to manipulate, control and bully his peers. Though at the end, it was the Black Box which consumed him. Also, the Black Box was shown as the power which could destroy and submit individuality but, as the character of Jerry Renault illustrated it, the Black Box can be opposed and critically evaluated.
The Essay on Black Box John Edmund Skull
The natives living in the northern part of the Himalayas Mountains were all surrounded by the mysteries of the black box for years - a box which contained numerous mysteries that were bizarre and interesting, yet had claimed many lives of innocent people mysteriously. The folks claimed that it was some sort of magical stuff belonged to the devil while those fascinated by it, suggested that it ...
Bibliography:
Robert Cormier. The Chocolate War.
Laurel Leaf. 1986. p.272..
