What is your response to Larry La Salle?

Larry LaSalle Preparing an essay

What is the significance of these images?

Plan Intro Key scenes Relationships with other characters Themes Language Blend these into paragraphs Personal opinion

Introduction ‘Heroes’ is a novel about Francis Cassavant and his desire for revenge. Set in Frenchtown, America, it explores the themes of guilt, love, secrecy and the idea of heroism. Using a series of flashbacks, Cormier slowly reveals why Francis, an eighteen year old, wants to kill Larry La Salle a man he once worshipped.

First Mention? Francis tells us in the first chapter that LaSalle is ‘the man I am going to kill.’ Therefore we are intrigued: why does Francis hate him so much? (There is always a sense of mystery about him.) From the very first chapter of the novel it is clear that LaSalle, like Nicole, is going to be a very important character because they are both mentioned.

Chapter 5: First Impressions LaSalle is glamorous and charismatic man. He is described as a ‘dazzling movie-star’ But there is a sense of mystery: why has he turned his back on show-business to run the youth club in Frenchtown? He has a talent for bringing out the best in people. His favourites seem to be Nicole and Francis.

Why is he popular? LaSalle runs the Wreck Centre in Frenchtown. ‘He was our champion and we were happy to be in his presence.’ He has a talent for bringing out the best in people. E.g. Francis who is lonely and lacking confidence, the bully Butch and Edna the “gawky” girl who becomes a dancer (P.31) His favourites seem to be Nicole and Francis who both flourish under his guidance (P.66) Despite LaSalle’s popularity there is a sense of uneasy mystery about him; as to why he turned his back on show- business. However, Francis admits, “..the air of mystery added to his glamour” (P.32) Cormier uses this technique of foreshadowing and undermining throughout the novel, suggesting an uncertainty about many of the characters.

What do others think of LaSalle? He is admired as a glamorous youth leader: “He was our champion and we were happy to be in his presence.” Later he is admired by the town as a ‘Silver Star’ war hero. LaSalle receives a hero’s welcome and public admiration. In St Jude’s Club, the war veterans toast him as the “patron saint” of the Wreck Centre, and he is the main feature of the scrap book of Frenchtown’s war heroes. LaSalle’s public appearance conceals what is really beneath the surface: his public persona is different from his private. The handsome appearance of LaSalle hides an inner evil.

How do we feel about Larry? There is an ambiguity about LaSalle’s character emphasised by the use of the first person narration. We only see LaSalle from Francis’s point of view so our views of Larry are swayed by Francis’s changing feelings. We also know that Francis wants to kill La Salle so perhaps we are always suspicious of him? Cormier contrasts the hideous exterior of the veteran Francis, who has our sympathy, with the memory of the beautiful LaSalle.

Appearance versus Reality The handsome, glamorous appearance of LaSalle hides the evil within him. In contrast, beneath Francis’ monstrous appearance and his words about murder, is a man who prays for his victim and is filled with guilt. Francis is filled with guilt about Nicole, Larry feels none.

How does Larry manipulate people? LaSalle says faking the table tennis result to let Francis win is a good thing for Francis & the other kids: “his final gift to me” (P.48) (Foreshadows the evil manipulation of Francis later.) He is presented as being highly manipulative: his whole construction of that evening and in the way he persuades Francis to leave the evening that he rapes Nicole. “We always did what Larry LaSalle told us to.” (P.66) NB Francis also manipulates situations and people adopting the pseudonym of Norman Rochelau (P.19)

The Confrontation Ironically, when Francis finally confronts La Salle he is presented as a shadow of his former self. War has destroyed him physically. La Salle is “fragile” and his eyes are ‘sunk into the sockets’ (P.78) It as if once we know the truth about Larry we see his true, ugly self. Significantly LaSalle’s legs are “gone”: cruel for a dancer, but symbolically he is unable to run from the truth! Yet he tries to defend himself: LaSalle seems deluded about the damage which he has caused: “The terrible thing is that we love our sins.” (P.82)

‘Does that one sin of mine wipe away all the good things?’ LaSalle’s is sinister and disturbing when he talks of the ‘sweet young things’ (P.81) Larry shows no remorse and a lack of understanding: “You wanted to die because of that?” (P.81) Yet he still has redeeming features: he tries to make Francis feel better about himself; he is trying to convince Francis that his motives in throwing himself on the grenade were heroic. “You are too hard on yourself.” (P.81) LaSalle that Cormier uses to ask the central question of the book: ‘Does that one sin of mine wipe away all the good things?’ (P.84)

Why is Larry LaSalle important? Larry and Francis are similar in many ways, but Cormier presents Larry in opposition to Francis: he is a contrast. Physically the veteran Francis is disfigured, but he remembers the memory of the beautiful LaSalle. When they finally meet after the war, Larry is physically “fragile”, Francis is disfigured and emotionally fragile but strong in his desire for revenge. The central themes of the novel are explored through Larry: heroism, war and appearance vs reality

Does he hurt Francis or help him? “You were always safe with me.” (P.83) At the end Larry tries to convince Francis that his motives in throwing himself on the grenade were heroic, but Francis is unconvinced: “Still trying to make me better than I am.” Cormier emphasises that the characters in his novel are not black and white but inhabit a grey area.

Conclusion: what is your opinion? Heroism is flawed. He is a ‘Silver Star’ war hero; a hero in the town for his work at the Wreck Centre and adored by the young people. He seems to have genuinely liked Francis: “You were always safe with me.” (P.83) He tries to help Francis forgive himself: “Go, Francis. Leave me here…leave it all behind with, with me.” (P.83) Yet LaSalle commits a terrible act against Nicole and does not feel any guilt, therefore we have no sympathy: “I love the sweet young things.” (P.82) He commits suicide, but does Larry do it for himself or for Francis? The sound of the gun shot “is almost like a Ping-Pong ball striking the table.” (P.82)