The Life and History of Robert Cormier

Robert Cormier, Behind the Pages Throughout history, great people have accomplished greatness. Robert Edmund Cormier is one of those people. For over two decades Cormier has been, and continues to be, one of the most controversial and widely read authors of young adult novels. (Ed. Deborah J) Robert Cormier's novel are well known for the conflicts between light and darkness, and what is right from what is wrong.
Robert Cormier was born on January 17, 1925, in the French-Canadian part of the town of Leominster, Massachusetts. His father, Lucien Joseph Cormier, was a factory worker, and his mother, Irma Margaret Collins Cormier, stayed at home to take care of the children. Cormier grew up attending a Catholic School, living near plastic factories and with his extended family nearby. His surroundings as a child helped with the development of the characters in his novels and the settings of his stories.
As a child Cormier went to a Catholic School, and when he graduated he attended Fitchburg State College in 1943. While he was there, an art teacher became interested in Cormier's work and published it in a local French magazine. (Ed. Deborah J) Shortly after graduating college, he began to make radio advertisements for a local radio station. This gave him the opportunity to expand his horizons. He began to write articles for local newspapers and magazines. He worked as a free-lancer who wrote for different magazines and newspapers until he sent his idea for his first novel to his agent. She loved the story except for its gloomy ending and wanted him to change it; he however, decided to keep the ending. This risky move ended up benefiting him because his novel became an instant success. Most of Cormier's impact comes from the shock factor inherent in the perspectives his characters bring to a given situation. His protagonists are usually teenagers struggling with tough lives. These characters are pitted against the world and have to come up with solutions to their problems. Some of these solutions are helpful, but most have disastrous effects. (Ed. Deborah J)
Due to the explicit nature of Robert Cormier's books, his books have been challenged by parents or schools. Most parents find these books disturbing and do not want their children reading his novels. When the "Banned in the U.S.A." article was written, they interviewed Cormier who said, "All I'm doing is warning (young people) that when they get out into the world it's kind of tough out there, and that's something hardly any novels or television shows are doing for kids at the moment". (Ed. Deborah J) He believes that children’s lives are being sheltered and hid from the real world. Cormier writes his books to gradually introduce students to the aspects of what happens in the real world. Robert Cormier has won many awards for his early works in the newspaper and magazine field, and also for his books The Chocolate War and Fade. He presently lives in the same town he lived in as a child, but now he is a grandfather.
Robert Cormier is a talented author who started out small and then became famous through hard work and dedication. He is a perfect example of how hard work and dedication can get you far in life. His books give teenagers the ability to connect with the characters as well as, help them though their problems. He uses themes of struggle and despair to show people the real problems in life. Cormier is a well-known author and deserves all the credit that is given to him. He is one of those people who only come around once in a life time.
The Positive and Negative of Robert Cormier’s Tenderness
Throughout life, everyone searches for something. Some people search for treasure and others search for happiness. However, there are people that search for tenderness in their lives; they want someone to be gentle with them and to show them love. A great example of this search for tenderness is found in the novel Tenderness, by Robert Cormier. Cormier’s background in this genre is expansive. All of his novels are about problems that teens have in their lives, and how they are searching for something. In Tenderness those teens are trying to find tenderness. Cormier develops Lori’s and Eric’s desperate search for the tenderness they have been denied throughout their lives by the unfolding of his story, the development of his characters, and their interactions between Lori and Eric.
Tenderness is about a fifteen year old named Lori Cranston. She lives in a home with an alcoholic, forgetful mother and her mother’s sexually inappropriate boyfriend. All Lori wants is to run away and find tenderness in someone, and that someone is Eric Poole. Eric Poole is an eighteen year old boy who yearns for the tenderness he had as young child. He went to jail for killing his mother and step-father. After being released from prison Eric continues his search for tenderness by his desire to once again strangle dark haired, tall women. Lori and Eric cross paths in their search for tenderness and they try to find tenderness together.
Character development is as important as the plot of the story itself. Robert Cormier does this effectively in this novel. Most of Cormier’s characters are lost, confused teenagers that are searching for something. The language that Robert Cormier uses to describe his characters can be a little graphic. This language would not be suitable for young children and parents would not like the language used to develop some of his characters. For example, the character Lori Cranston is portrayed as a young girl looking to get away from it all and find someone that will like her for her, not how she looks. However, to her advantage, she sometimes uses her body to obtain the things she wants; a good example of this would be on page 16 and 17 when she says, “And maybe you could help me out a little. Like say, twenty dollars… he reaches for me, eye closed, and I go toward him, letting him have me.” This is an example of Lori using her body to get the things she wants. Another character whose development is essential to the story is Eric Poole’s. Eric Poole is first shown as an intelligent young man with no feeling or emotions. Eric is like a brick wall when it comes to caring for others due to the fact that he has bottled up his emotions since his father’s death. From the beginning of the novel it can be easily seen that something is mentally wrong with Eric; for example on page 29 where Cormier writes, “He had to follow the demands and the dictates of the situation… he enjoyed it.” In his deliberate and cleverly planned murder of his mother and step father, Eric took precise measures to ensure he would only be imprisoned until his eighteenth birthday. Throughout the novel Cormier is able to transform Eric from a complete sociopath to a newly found emotional man. All of the main characters in this book have some sort of problem and they are trying to find resolutions to those problems. Robert Cormier is able to develop his characters even further by how he shows the interactions between Eric, and Lori. Before Eric went to prison he had a charm on the ladies. He used his smile to charm his victims into going places alone with him. Once he was sentenced to prison he lost connection with the outside world. When he got out and met Lori he had no idea what to say to her. She did most of the talking and Eric just listened. They immediately formed a connection that bonded them together. Eventually, Lori found tenderness in Eric; she was able to deal with all the accusations the reporter had told her Eric was accused of doing. She also was able to handle the things she knew he was capable of doing. Even after Eric attempted to kill her, Lori still loved Eric. She knew that she had found the tenderness that she was looking for; Eric was the one she knew would protect her and treat her right. With Eric, it was not the same. Eric originally had planned to continue his search for tenderness after he was freed from prison, and when he found Lori she altered his plan. Eric found a true innocence in Lori that reminded him of time spent with his mother. Eric felt a different sense of tenderness in Lori which surprised him because he had only experienced tenderness from the kill of his previous victims. He was able to find comfort after time spent with Lori. Their awkward meeting eventually lead them to find what they were looking for, tenderness. Cormier is able to develop his theme of searching in this relationship. He develops both sides of the relationship which enables the reader to discover that Eric and Lori were longing for the same thing. Through Lori’s desperate attempt to foil Jake Proctor plot against Eric; Cormier was able to show that they had found what they were searching for, tenderness.
Throughout this novel, Robert Cormier shows that everyone searches for something. Everyone spends their lives searching for that one thing; the one thing they need in life to survive. In this case, his characters, Lori and Eric, are searching for tenderness. Cormier expresses his theme of searching for tenderness through the development of his story, the development of his characters, and the development of the interactions between Eric and Lori. Cormier show readers through vivid imagery and well used flashbacks, the story of two peoples’ search for tenderness,
Tenderness; Great Book for Students
Getting on the sophomore reading list is a hard task to accomplish for most novels. The rules for getting on the reading list are very strict, and most novels do not meet the requirements. The novels that do get on the reading list normally are long, boring, or are hard to read. Most students use websites like Spark notes to get the information needed on the boring novels they have to read. Students would rather read something shorter and easier to follow; they do not care if the novels are graphic or use foul language. All students want are novels they will enjoy. In order for students to actually read novels and to get something out of those novels; the reading list must add novels that are entertaining and fun to read. Novels like Tenderness, for example, would be an excellent novel for the reading list. Tenderness, by Robert Cormier, is a novel that will keep students reading to the end. They will never want to put the novel down. Tenderness is a book that students can connect to, it is a novel that is easy to read and comprehend, and this book teaches students valuable lessons; this is why Tenderness should be put on the sophomore reading list.
The novel Tenderness was written so that when students read the novel, they will be able to connect with the characters. For example, when Eric Poole was younger; he was neglected by his mother and hated by his step-father. He grew to dislike his parents due to this treatment, and at times he found himself longing for the good times he used to have with his mother. When students read this novel they can instantly connect with Eric and feel the pain he feels throughout the novel. The students will realize that at one point in their lives, they have had relationships that have not always been the best. For example, when Eric had to get away from “his mother and Harvey, the mall, school, everything, he went to the shed and just sat there.” (pg. 37) Students can relate to this because their parents can get annoying at times. Another example of a character that is easy to connect with is Lori Cranston. Lori is described as a girl who feels lonely and is often neglected by most people. She is confused on what love is and where to find love; which is why Lori is still a child at heart. When Lori thought, “I feel depressed because I know if Gary stays… then I have to leave.” (pg.5) Students feel bad for Lori because she feels alone and students can often relate to her pain. Lieutenant Jake Proctor has had a tough life; he was a police chief in another town and had a case that involved the murder of children. He questioned a suspect who he thought committed the crime, but let him go due to lack of evidence. He realized that the guy, who he thought committed the crime, was the perpetrator. Lieutenant Proctor he has found Eric who reminds him of the man he let go; he will not let the same thing happen to Eric that happened to the guy who he let go. Students can relate to this because everyone at some point in their lives has tried to right a wrong.
Robert Cormier wrote this novel with teenagers in mind. The book has large font and is not long in length. In the eyes of a student this book already sounds good. In addition to the positive attributes this novel already has, it is also easy to read. When students see large, lengthy books, they feel intimated which is the exact opposite of this novel. Cormier is able to keep the readers reading due to the flow of his novel. The way Cormier uses multi-perspective viewpoints keep the readers hooked. The way he develops his characters keeps the reader wanting more. The language used throughout the novel enables students to understand what Cormier is conveying to his readers. Due to the easiness of the language of this novel; students can understand the themes and life lessons described in the novel.
Tenderness is filled with many lessons for the readers to encounter throughout the novel. The lessons and themes expressed in the novel teach students important lessons that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. One of the lessons this novel teaches students is to not judge a book by its cover. In the beginning of the novel, it is concluded that Eric Poole was said to be a man without emotions. Jake Proctor was the one who said this to Eric, furthermore, when Jake Proctor calls Eric, “A monster.” (pg37), he is jumping to conclusions by saying that Eric will never have feelings, but Jake Proctor was proven wrong by the end of the novel when Eric cries over his feelings about Lori. Eric, throughout the novel, develops his emotions, even more so after meeting Lori. Another lesson is how Jake Proctor tries to right his wrongs by paying close attention. He teaches students to right their wrongs. Students learn to not judge a person based on how they dress or act; they learn to get to know people before they judge them. A perfect example of this is when Jake Proctor lets the guy who murdered the children go in his old police job, he vowed to never let something like that happen again. Students can learn that they should always right their wrongs. Themes are important to a novel because when people read a book they look for themes within the book. Those who read books may not always remember general information about the book, but they will always remember the themes of a good book. Tenderness is a book that has an excellent theme. The main theme of this novel is that everyone searches for something to make them feel complete, and they should continue searching until they have found what will make them complete. In this novel, Eric and Lori both have urges to find tenderness; they both find that tenderness in each other.
The book Tenderness should be added to the honors sophomore reading list. It meets all the requirements to get onto the list; it would be an excellent read for students. The students would actually read this book because it is easy to read; they would not look at a website like Spark notes for the information. It would benefit sophomore students to read this novel because they would be able to learn from all of the information in the novel. This novel has a great story line with an exciting and unexpected ending. Cormier’s novel is easy for students to connect with, it is easy to read and comprehend the novel, and lastly this novel has excellent themes and lessons that can relate to the reader. If students did not read this novel, they would be missing out on the very creative and unique writing style of Robert Cormier.