It's crucial to understand that Cormier is a political writer in a broad sense. He focuses on systems rather than individuals or specific ideologies. Consequently, the characters in The Chocolate War are intertwined with the profound themes that shape Cormier's view of humanity.

The courageous protagonist, Jerry Renault, faces formidable societal forces. He is not your typical rebel, agitator, or heroic figure; instead, he is a nuanced character whose motivations for resisting peer pressure are hard to define. Despite his ultimate defeat by the Vigils, a secret society, Jerry embodies what Cormier perceives as the only way to combat the persistent evils of the system.

Cormier delves into the inner workings and effects of a private school's closed society. His insights extend to all institutions—governments, social clubs, fraternities, and churches—and the potential harm they can cause when their power stems from a conspiracy of self-serving individuals. The members of the Vigils differ greatly in their personalities and motives, yet they remain united in their abuse of power, efforts to suppress dissent, and disregard for the group's harmful impact. Carter, the president and "jock," seeks status but relinquishes true authority to the "assigner," Archie Costello. Archie is the cynic, so assured of others' weakness and self-interest that he delights in manipulating people whenever possible. Obie acts as the "administrator," a subordinate who executes orders and revels in the power given to him, despite his guilty conscience. Lastly, there's Emile, easily identified as the "goon," lacking any apparent conscience and driven by a desire to intimidate outsiders.

Cormier suggests that corruption arises from the alliance of the cynical, intolerant, and ambitious. More alarming is that such groups exist solely to advance their own self-interest and survival, prioritizing their power and prestige. Consequently, groups like the Vigils or the Watergate conspirators focus their efforts on silencing dissent, pressuring individuals, and placing the group's dominance above all else. To this end, the Vigils provide nearly all aspects of "school spirit," and Archie Costello creates assignments to showcase the group's control over Trinity's student body.

Trinity symbolizes any institution where "spirit" becomes the sole measure, and dissenters are silenced or ostracized. If taken to extremes, this mindset would lead to the social dictatorships vividly depicted in novels like George Orwell's 1984 and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.

It would be incorrect to assume that The Chocolate War only concerns itself with the lives of teenagers. The same kind of conspiracy and self-interest can be found among the adults at Trinity. The Vigils derive their influence from the collaboration of Brother Leon and his staff. Much like Archie, Leon's polished exterior conceals a ruthless and often cruel alignment with evil. Despite their mutual disdain, both characters endure each other's excesses to ensure Trinity's survival, thereby reinforcing their own power.

In The Chocolate War, evil and oppression manifest in various forms. Young individuals betray and manipulate one another, while the adult world sets negative examples for them to emulate. To complicate matters further, the betrayers often disguise themselves with facades of loyalty, brotherhood, and patriotism. However, a crucial element of Cormier's depiction of human failure is the tendency of "good" people to acquiesce to these wrongdoings. The anonymous Vigils who attend meetings and execute orders contribute to Archie's and Leon's dominance, just as the well-intentioned Brother Jacques allows the system to persist.

Yet, one character dares to resist the Vigils, and Cormier implies that individual conscience can only endure if people like Jerry are courageous enough to defy peer pressure. Jerry's decision to act is crucial. Other boys, like Obie and Goober, although appalled by Archie's actions, continue to follow his directives. Cormier is clear about the overwhelming challenges an individual faces. However, failing to take action means becoming complicit in the conspiracy and sharing in the guilt.