the order of things (chocolate war) Essay -- essays research papers

The Order of Things   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Disturbing the universe is one of the main themes of Robert Cormier’s novel, The Chocolate War. Jerry Renault, the protagonist of the novel, goes against Trinity, the all boys school, and The Vigils, a powerful school gang. He gets admired and then bullied because of his defiance of authority.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the beginning of the story, we are introduced to Jerry Renault. As he is trying out for the school’s football team, Archie and Obie, two members of The Vigils, are writing â€Å"assignments† for the chosen boys at school. If the boy fails to complete or do his assignment he gets punished by The Vigils. Archie sees Jerry get slaughtered by the football team and still manage to get up. Archie then decides to give Jerry one of his assignments. â€Å"‘The assignment must fit the kid. That’s the beauty of it, Obie... Put him down for the chocolates’† (Cormier 15-16).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Every year at Jerry’s school, Trinity, they have a chocolate sale. And every year, all the students participate. Jerry’s assignment was to refuse to sell the chocolates for ten school days. â€Å"‘Let me get this straight, Renault,’ Brother Leon said and his voice brought the room under his command. ‘I called your name. Your response could have been either yes or no. Yes means that like every other student in this school you agree to sell the chocolates, in this case fifty boxes. No – and let me point out that the sale is strictl...