Themes: Victim and Victimization
The interaction between Archie and Emile Janza in Chapter 15, who share certain traits, is depicted from Archie's viewpoint. Archie manipulates Janza by pretending to have a compromising photograph of him. At the same time, Janza is shown bullying a young freshman, forcing him to get cigarettes. Archie reflects, "The world was made up of two kinds of people—those who were victims and those who victimized." His self-awareness and honesty about his actions are significant characteristics.
In contrast, Brother Leon is more deceitful, and Cormier strategically arranges the chapters to emphasize this difference. In Chapter 16, we see Leon shrewdly pressuring David Caroni to disclose information about Jerry's Vigil assignment. Although Leon appears to be the respectable Assistant Head of a boys' school, he is just as corrupt as Archie and Emile. Caroni is left wondering, "Were teachers as corrupt as the villains you read about in books or saw in movies and television?"
Expert Q&A
How does the first sentence, "They murdered him," apply to "The Chocolate War" as a whole?
The first sentence, "They murdered him," in The Chocolate War foreshadows the pervasive violence and intense conflict throughout the book. It immediately captures the reader's attention and raises questions about the characters and events. The novel explores themes such as violence, manipulation, power, peer pressure, and good versus evil, making Trinity High School a hostile environment. This sentence effectively sets the tone for the psychological, physical, and verbal violence that unfolds.
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