The Theme of Fear in The Chocolate War

Nicole LaReau

Blog Post #1

Prompt A/A

Fear is a primal instinct of life; therefore it be a driving theme of literature. Fear factors in heavily to the storyline of the Chocolate War, as most of the actions of the characters involved are based on fear. The fear created from the Vigils’ actions drives their continual bullying, while the fear from their victims creates a culture of obedience. This cycle fuels the whole plotline of the story, as well illustrates one of the elemtal forces of adolescence: peer pressure. The whole novel is about who is in control, and how they exercise this elemental force within the confines of their little universe. The second chapter especially reinforces this theme of fear. Archie, the head of the Vigils, is introduced to the reader in the second chapter, and the author begins to set up the complex of fear and control that Archie exercises over his little kingdom. Archie’s bullying ways are revealed early, especially in this passage as he and Obie have an aggressive and hostile conversation in which Archie’s intellectual prowess is revealed. Obie’s fear of Archie’s intellect is seen during their argument, as well as in how subservient Obie is towards Archie as his “personal assistant”. Archie also exhibits behavior reminiscent of a god complex, as he sits around deciding other’s fates without their knowledge and dictating his commands to Obie. Archie assumes the compliance of the mere mortals of whom he is commanding because he is confident the fear they have of him will prompt their actions. This part of the novel also details just exactly how Archie instills fear in his victims: through pyschological intimidation versus phsycial intimidation. It proves more powerful, and also slides underneath the radar of the educational, instituational world that they are operating within. All of the Vigils’ (and indirectly Archie’s) assignments operate under the assumption that the primal force of fear is enough to drive their victims to action. Jerry later upsets this assumption, but this passage describes a crucial part of how the small universe of fear of Archie sets up an expectation of a fear culture.