The Chocolate War

Jerry is a freshman who moves through grief after his mother's death, burdened with existential questions. He is recruited onto Trinity's football team and quickly becomes entangled in the school's power games. After reading a quote in his locker, he resolves to sell nothing for 10 days, a defiance that isolates him from Leon, Archie, and most classmates. His stubborn stand becomes a test of integrity as the school mobilizes to crush dissent.

Roland Goubert, nicknamed 'The Goober,' is a fellow freshman who becomes Jerry's instant friend. He moves through Trinity's social maze with a quiet loyalty, often choosing to stand with Jerry even as he feels outmatched by The Vigils. He offers moral support but is mostly ineffective at stopping the harassment, underscoring the danger of power plays within the school. His presence highlights the difficulty of true friendship in a climate where conformity is rewarded.

Archie Costello is the genesis and leader of The Vigils, a covert secret society that manipulates the student body. He uses calculated games to bend both the administration and his peers to his will, alternating between feigned cooperation and ruthless punishment. His plan to pull Jerry into conflict with a mysterious lottery scheme reveals his flair for control and his contempt for individual autonomy. The character embodies corruption within a ritualistic school culture.

Emile Janza is the school's muscular bully who acts as Archie's instrument of intimidation. He carries out the beatdown on Jerry just outside the school and participates in the brutal, public boxing match. He is driven by peer pressure and fear of retribution, revealing the dangerous dynamic of violence as a tool of control. His actions force Jerry to confront the limits of resistance within a punitive system.

Brother Leon is the vice-principal who has risen to acting headmaster and leverages a big chocolate sales goal to expand his authority. He colludes with Archie, praising the plan in public while quietly orchestrating the backing that makes the millions turned into personal power. He embodies institutional ambition, bending rules to secure influence and preserve control for his own benefit. His complicity challenges the students' faith in fairness and justice.