NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
Power good or bad? The book Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier, had many forms of power. The Vigils possessed power over Jerry, Goober, Brother Leon, the chocolate sale, and the school. This power that they possessed was used to manipulate the people and things for the further meant of the Vigils organization. Is it possible to ruin someones freshman year with on small thing, or in Jerry's case one small assignment? Jerry was told to rebel against the school.
He was told to not except the chocolates during the chocolate sale. The chocolate sale is a Trinity tradition thats been in place for years before. Then later on the Vigils gave Jerry another assignment. His new assignment was to take the chocolates. But Jerry then again rebelled, this time under his own will, against the Vigils.
But the Vigils power was so great that they took care of Jerry's quota. During a conversation between Jerry and Archie, at a Vigil meeting, Archie says, Tomorrow at role call you will except the chocolates. (138) This was the assignment Jerry rebelled against. This brought jerry lots of unwanted enemies. These enemies hurt Jerry physically and mentally. Your conscience can determine how you live and feel. This is what happened to Goober.
Goober was given an assignment by the Vigils. Goobers assignment was to destroy room 19. He was to loosen all of the screws in the room. During a Vigil meeting, when Goober got his assignment, the narrator states, Goober nodded his head excepting the Vigil assignment like a sentence of doom. (33) When Goober saw the look on Brother Leon's face and the destruction that he caused he felt terrible about what he had done. What the Vigils made him do. Can young make old feel powerless?
Thats what the Vigils did to Brother Leon. Brother Leon knew that he couldnt sell the chocolates without the backing of the Vigils. The chocolate sale was very important to Brother Leon because if he didnt make the quota it would most definitely lead to his termination from Trinity High School. The reason being that he borrowed the money from a saving s that the school needed. During a meeting between Brother Leon and Archie, Archie being a major Vigil member, Archie thought to himself, Leon is practically begging for our help. (24) This shows the need for the Vigils power and the power they had over Brother Leon. The reason Brother Leon needed the Vigils power was because their power with the student body was far superior to his.
A small sale can bring big profits. It can also bring hardship and penalties along with it. This chocolate sale brought a lot of pain to those involved, this pain coming in many different forms, like physical and emotional pain. It was an assignment by the Vigils, bestowed upon Jerry, which messed everything up for the chocolate sale.
Jerry reassured himself that he was merely carrying out a Vigil assignment like those before him. He reassured himself by keeping this mind frame, Jerry was carrying out a Vigil assignment thats why he refused to take the chocolates day after day. (95) But soon the idea rubbed off on him and he soon believed in not selling the chocolates. By Jerry not selling the chocolates the sales dramatically reduced. Not only because of his quota but because the students looked at him as a kind of hero. The drop in sale brought more pressure to the Vigils from Brother Leon. But because of the Vigils power they were able to convert the power into a away that made Jerry out to be the bad guy no longer the hero.
Then the Vigils used their power once again to get all the chocolates sold. In closing this small sale turned out to be a small war. A small group of people with more assumed power than they actually have can throw a whole school out of rhythm. The Vigils preyed on those students that could not oppose them or their power. As Archie believed, The Vigils were the school. (26) The Vigils controlled the school based on their power. They could make even the toughest students do what they wanted.
The Vigils power came from the fear of the student body. The Vigils also controlled a few teachers, but not from their fear their need. With all of this control and power the vigils controlled the school. Power is and can be a controversial thing.
In the book The Chocolate War power was very important to the Vigils organization, because it was their basis for existence. The Vigil showed power over many people and things. But the book mainly focused on them affecting Jerry, Goober, Brother Leon, chocolate sale, and the school. The Vigils used their power to further their organization and to overcome any obstacle that came in their way. Power started The Chocolate War and ended it.
Free research essays on topics related to: student body, chocolate war, vigils, brother leon, chocolate sale
Research essay sample on The Theme Of Power In Book Chocolate War
