Francis Cassavant Character Analysis in Heroes

Francis is the novel’s protagonist and narrator. A quiet, unassuming boy, Francis is an average kid in his hometown of Monument—neither popular nor an outcast. While he is not particularly athletic, Francis is an avid reader, and he dreams of one day being a hero like the characters in his favorite books. Francis’s greatest trauma was witnessing the rape of his childhood sweetheart Nicole Renard by his former hero Larry LaSalle, and knowing that he did nothing to stop it. This one moment of violence shatters the innocence of Francis’ idyllic childhood, ultimately propelling him to enlist in the army as a way to discreetly and honorably commit suicide, an attempt that not only fails, but also earns him the title of “hero.” In a last ditch effort to evade the misery of his adult life, Francis sets out to murder Larry, a quest that ultimately brings Francis face-to-face with the inescapable complexity of adult problems, forcing him to accept his adulthood and move on with his life.

Francis Cassavant Quotes in Heroes

The Heroes quotes below are all either spoken by Francis Cassavant or refer to Francis Cassavant. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

My name is Francis Joseph Cassavant and I have just returned to Frenchtown in Monument and the war is over and I have no face.

Related Characters: Francis Cassavant (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 1

Explanation and Analysis:

While Francis’ opening statement appears to be a straightforward explanation of his current situation, it gives subtle hints about the major conflicts of the novel. Symbolically, his claim that he has no face foreshadows his struggle with his own identity, especially after experiencing the horrors of World War II. By framing Francis’ presence in Frenchtown as a return, Cormier frames the whole novel in terms of a journey, which, as the novel progresses, is shown to be as psychological as it is physical. Physically, Francis’ journey has taken him from his childhood hometown to the battlefields of France and back, Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam con

So I offer up an Our Father and Hail Mary and Glory Be for Larry LaSalle. Then I am filled with guilt and shame, knowing that I have just prayed for the man I am going to kill.

Related Characters: Francis Cassavant (speaker), Larry LaSalle

Page Number and Citation: 8

Explanation and Analysis:

Francis is prompted to include Larry in his prayers because he remembers learning in parochial school that it is more important to pray for one’s enemies than to pray for one’s friends. While it can be argued that Francis misses the point of the teaching (to pray for one’s enemies in order to be able to forgive them) his prayer for Larry shows that religion and violence are able to coexist in his mind. Although he admits to feeling guilty, he ultimately brushes off his discomfort and continues with his murderous quest, which also shows that religion has lost its Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidun

I knelt there like a knight at her feet, her sword having touched my shoulder. I silently pledged her my love and loyalty forever.

Related Characters: Francis Cassavant (speaker), Nicole Renard

Page Number and Citation: 13

Explanation and Analysis:

Realistically, Francis only happens to be kneeling when Nicole enters the classroom because he dove to retrieve a piece of fallen chalk. However, his silent pledge shows how simple his worldview is as a child: Nicole is beautiful and thus he loves her, with no real thought to what constitutes love, never mind the fact that she does not even know his name. Furthermore, his hyperbolic language also shows how his childhood was dominated by simple things—like crushes—that seemed to have enormous weight. The reference to knights and chivalry in his language foreshadows how Nicole will become caught up in Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia ap

Why hadn't I answered her? Did she now think I was stupid, unable to start a conversation? Had she merely been teasing me? Or had she been really afraid that I might fall off the banister? The questions left me dazed with wonder. I never knew that love could be so agonizing. Finally, the big question: Had Marie told Nicole that I liked her?

Related Characters: Francis Cassavant (speaker), Marie LaCroix, Nicole Renard

Page Number and Citation: 18

Explanation and Analysis:

Francis’ entire dilemma here stems from his inability to answer Nicole when she gently teases him on her way out of his apartment building. After he fails to respond, he falls into a cycle of over-thinking, familiar to almost anyone who has had a childhood crush. While on the surface, Francis’ obsession with every possible variable in the scenario seems almost endearing, it reveals the simplistic nature of his childhood. In his world, his largest problems involve mere sentences spoken, or not spoken, between him and Nicole. Ultimately, Cormier’s choice to present Francis’ childhood in flashbacks ensures that child Francis’ Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut ven

I have places to visit now that I have returned and one of them is Sixth Street and the gray three-decker where Nicole Renard lived with her mother and father on the second floor at number 212. I know she doesn't live there anymore and I have nothing to gain by going there but it's inevitable that I look at her house again.

Related Characters: Francis Cassavant (speaker), Nicole Renard

Page Number and Citation: 21

Explanation and Analysis:

Now that Francis has settled into his role as a stranger in his childhood hometown, he begins to haunt the streets, compelled to literally revisit the centers of his childhood. The fact that he still remembers the exact address of Nicole’s old apartment underscores how central she was to Francis’ childhood and how obsessed with her he remains. However, it is symbolic that Francis visits her house, even though he knows that she and her family have long since left Frenchtown: if Nicole is a symbol of his childhood, her absence from Frenchtown signifies that Francis’ childhood is also gone. Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident

Here is the point where my life becomes a lie. "Raymond" I tell her, using the name of my dead brother. "Beaumont," I add. My mother's name before she married my father.

Related Characters: Francis Cassavant (speaker), Raymond Cassavant, Mrs. Belander

Page Number and Citation: 25

Explanation and Analysis:

When his landlady Mrs. Belander finally asks Francis for his name, he is forced to actively begin to live a lie. Previously, people had just accepted his presence as a wounded veteran, and he was able to passively avoid identifying himself. His choice of a pseudonym is symbolic, as it is a macabre creation out of his childhood. Francis could have chosen to use, for example, the name of any of the soldiers he had known during the war, but he chose instead to piece together the names of his deceased family members. Symbolically, this choice shows how Francis sees Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Volu

In the alley that day I encountered the German soldiers, all right, but my bursts of gunfire killed the soldiers quickly, no exploding head no body cut in two, although one of them did cry Mama as he fell. When I looked down at them…I saw how young they were, boys with apple cheeks, too young to shave. Like me.

Related Characters: Francis Cassavant (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 29-30

Explanation and Analysis:

Almost every night, Francis relives his experiences in combat, sometimes in a vividly graphic way. Here, he awakens after reliving the moment he killed two young German soldiers, but admits that his nightmare was gorier than it had been in reality. The tendency of his mind to exaggerate war into more Hollywood-esque terms underscores one of the novel’s main tensions: how the portrayal of the war in the media often fails to capture its cold reality. The German soldier crying out for his mother and Francis’ recognition of himself in his supposed enemies underscores the idea that the war played Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusa

The Wreck Center became my headquarters in the seventh and eighth grade, a place away from the sidewalks and empty lots of Frenchtown. I had never been a hero in such places, too short and un-coordinated for baseball and too timid to join the gangs that hung around the street corners.

Related Characters: Francis Cassavant (speaker)

Related Symbols: The Wreck Center

Page Number and Citation: 42

Explanation and Analysis:

In his decision to join the Wreck Center crew, as they come to be called, Francis shows how his conception of heroism is still exceedingly childish in its simplicity. Heroism for Francis was determined in his childhood by success in relatively trivial things (like backyard sports) or by sheer popularity and “coolness.” Furthermore, his description of the ill-fated recreational hall as his “headquarters” shows that it was a physical center of his childhood. By extension, this implies that his quest for “heroism” was a central part of his identity as a child, and it also foreshadows the way in which Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea susc

Dazzled by his talent and his energy, most of us didn't dwell on the rumors. In fact, the air of mystery that surrounded him added to his glamour. He was our champion, and we were happy to be in his presence.

Related Characters: Francis Cassavant (speaker), Larry LaSalle

Related Symbols: The Wreck Center

Page Number and Citation: 45

Explanation and Analysis:

Here, Francis is describing the general sense of reverence that the Wreck Center children had for Larry, despite incipient rumors that he had returned to Frenchtown after running into trouble elsewhere. While child Francis brushes off these rumors, they are the first hint of a darker side to Larry, faintly tingeing his apparent charisma with a sinister edge. Furthermore, Francis’ use of the word “champion” to describe Larry reinforces the childish definition of heroism used by Francis and the other Frenchtown children. To them, Larry was a hero for two simple reasons: he excelled in all the activities that they Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus

"There are lots of medals," the big bartender croaks, "for outstanding service, but only the Silver Star is for heroism." His old voice is suddenly formal and dignified. "For gallantry."

Related Characters: The Strangler (speaker), Larry LaSalle, Francis Cassavant, Arthur Rivier

Page Number and Citation: 52

Explanation and Analysis:

After Francis inquires about Larry’s whereabouts, Arthur Rivier and the Strangler lead a round of toasts to Larry and to the Frenchtown men and women who served during the war. Then, the Strangler pulls out a scrapbook and explains to the still anonymous Francis that Larry has won the Silver Star. Here, the Strangler’s description of what type of conduct merits a Silver Star is intentionally vague and almost romantic. While his definition of “heroism” is not as simplistic as the childish views of the Frenchtown children, the Strangler still struggles to define heroism with a moral or ethical component, Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque err

Never before had I known such a sense of destiny. I felt invincible, impossible to defeat, the ball always under my control.

Related Characters: Francis Cassavant (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 66

Explanation and Analysis:

Dominating the Wreck Center Ping-Pong tournament, Francis remarks at how he feels completely in control as he advances from the semi-finals to the championship match. Again though, his hyperbolic language shows his childish perspective, lending the significance of destiny to what is otherwise a trivial event. This then feeds into his idea of heroism, as he feels he is within striking distance of becoming the champion and thus a hero, to himself and to the other children. Interestingly, his feelings of control and power are later inverted when he plays Larry in front of the entire Wreck Center; Francis only Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Op

Like a dream coming true, Nicole took the trophy from Larry LaSalle and handed it to me, the radiance of her face mirroring my own. The crowd grew silent as I pressed the trophy to my chest, my eyes becoming moist

Related Characters: Francis Cassavant (speaker), Larry LaSalle, Nicole Renard

Page Number and Citation: 64-65

Explanation and Analysis:

Finally, Francis has become the hero has always aspired to be, and as Nicole hands him his trophy, it cements his childish view of heroics as being solely related to victory and its rewards. Essentially, to Francis, being a hero is the same as being noticed. Again, the importance he attaches to his accomplishments here seems excessive and even frivolous when placed in contrast with the brutality he would go on to face in the war. This contrast is emphasized by his use of the phrase “a dream coming true”—as a child he dreams of simple, exaggerated victories, but as Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolo

"Heroes," he scoffs, his voice sharp and bitter, all signs of drunkenness gone. "We weren't heroes. The Strangler and his scrapbook. No heroes in that scrapbook, Francis. Only us, the boys of Frenchtown. Scared and homesick and cramps in the stomach and vomit. Nothing glamorous like the write-ups in the papers or the newsreels. We weren't heroes. We were only there…

Related Characters: Arthur Rivier (speaker), Francis Cassavant, The Strangler

Page Number and Citation: 71

Explanation and Analysis:

Drunk outside of the St. Jude Club, Arthur Rivier confides in Francis how distressing it is that none of the other veterans talk about the reality of the war, if they talk about it at all. Arthur adds further tension to the novel’s search for a definition of heroism by questioning the value of wartime heroics. Specifically, he raises the point that most of the soldiers were just scared children trying to make it out alive, not actively trying to be brave or courageous or patriotic, even if that’s what motivated them to go to war in the first place. Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non invento

Larry LaSalle stood before us that afternoon at the Wreck Center, the movie star smile gone, replaced by grim-faced determination. "We can't let the Japs get away with this," he said, anger that we had never seen before flashing in his eyes. As we were about to cheer his announcement, he held up his hand. "None of that, kids, I'm just doing what millions of others are doing."

Related Characters: Larry LaSalle (speaker), Francis Cassavant, Nicole Renard, Joey LeBlanc

Page Number and Citation: 74

Explanation and Analysis:

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Larry becomes the first Frenchtown man to enlist in the armed forces. Outwardly, Larry uses the same rhetoric employed by the government to cast the war in a moral light and construe serving as his patriotic duty. However, the anger in his eyes betrays his inward desire for violent revenge. This sudden, almost latent anger is another hint at Larry’s darker side. The children’s applause shows their simplistic view of heroism. To them, the violence is an afterthought, a by-product of Larry going away to war and being a hero. Here, they show no Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Expli

Taking a deep breath, I said: "Would you like to go to the movies sometime?" The earth paused in its orbit.

Related Characters: Francis Cassavant (speaker), Nicole Renard

Page Number and Citation: 76

Explanation and Analysis:

One day as Nicole comes into the drugstore where Francis works, he finally takes the plunge and asks her out on a date. While anyone who has been in Francis’ shoes will admit that it can be nerve wracking, Francis’ describes the moment with literal earth-stopping importance. His childish perspective is shown plainly here, as he sees this otherwise innocuous, largely sweet and innocent moment, as the most important moment of his life so far. Symbolically, by giving Nicole the power to stop the world, Francis affirms that during his childhood, she was the entirety of his world—her silence was Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut v

The Movietone News brought reminders of the war that was raging around the globe, as the grim narrator spoke of places that had been unknown to us a few months ago—Bataan in the Pacific, Tobruk in Africa. We cheered our fighting forces and booed and hissed when Hitler came on the screen, his arm always raised in that hated salute.

Related Characters: Francis Cassavant (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 77

Explanation and Analysis:

Before every movie that plays at the local cinema, the “war reels” give viewers like Francis and the rest of Frenchtown a view of the war. However, as Francis describes, the footage is intentionally presented in a way to make the war seem “exotic” and romantic, something far away and exciting. In essence, the war reels are propaganda more than news, since they hide the true, violent reality of the war. Francis’ description also shows how the war reels were presented in the style of a movie, exciting the crowd into cheers for Allied troops and boos for Hitler, rather Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaec

We always did what Larry LaSalle told us to do. Always carried out his slightest wish…I saw Larry raising his eyebrows at me, the way he looked at me when I made a stupid move at table tennis.

Related Characters: Francis Cassavant (speaker), Nicole Renard, Larry LaSalle

Page Number and Citation: 94

Explanation and Analysis:

Back in Frenchtown on furlough, Larry leads his former students back to the Wreck Center for a night of reminiscing and fun. When just Francis and Nicole remain, Larry tells Francis to leave, convincing him that the night has been long and exciting and that Francis is probably tired. Throughout this, Nicole is protesting. This, in essence, is Francis’ first adult problem: disobeying his hero in order to protect his sweetheart. However, his childish worldview, even in spite of the war, is not fully able to process that even people who seem good are capable of evil. He lacks the Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus volu

"Are you all right?" I asked. “No, I'm not all right" she answered anger flashing in her eyes. "I hurt. I hurt all over." I could only stand there mute, as if all my sins had been revealed and there was no forgiveness for them.

Related Characters: Nicole Renard (speaker), Francis Cassavant (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 101-102

Explanation and Analysis:

After Nicole finally leaves her apartment after her traumatic rape, the only thing that Francis can think to ask her is a question to which he clearly knows the answer. His awareness that his question is futile shows that he is aware that his childish worldview will no longer suffice for the problems he faces. Still, Francis only has his childhood to guide him, and so he falls back into the rhetoric he is used to, even as it rings hollow. This is also seen through the religious language of unforgivable sins: theoretically, there are no sins unforgivable in the Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea s

I could not die that way. Soldiers were dying with honor on battlefields all over the world. Noble deaths. The deaths of heroes. How could I die by leaping from a steeple? The next afternoon I boarded the bus to Fort Delta, in my pocket the birth certificate I had altered to change my age, and became a soldier in the United States Army.

Related Characters: Francis Cassavant (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 104

Explanation and Analysis:

Atop the St. Jude Steeple, Francis realizes that he cannot commit suicide in this manner. Tellingly, he changes his mind out of respect for his parents’ reputation and the soldiers fighting in the war, and not out of respect for the church as a religious institution, which shows that Francis does not consider religion to be a significant moral force. The church for him no longer represents a holy place or a place of possible redemption, but simply a tall structure to leap from. Additionally, he begins to show some sort of nuanced recognition of heroism in that he acknowledges Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptat

I am calm. My heartbeat is normal. What's one more death after the others in the villages and fields of France? The innocent faces of the two young Germans appear in my mind. But Larry LaSalle is not innocent.

Related Characters: Francis Cassavant (speaker), Larry LaSalle

Page Number and Citation: 109

Explanation and Analysis:

Finally, after months spent haunting the streets of Frenchtown, Francis is poised to complete his final mission and murder Larry. As he prepares himself mentally, he shows that he is more capable of thinking about the complexity of heroism than he once was, since he is able to judge Larry based on his entire character, not just one aspect. Put another way, he is able to see that even though Larry won a Silver Star, his violence towards Nicole outweighs his wartime heroism. Still though, Francis stops just short of asking the biggest question: do Larry’s sins justify his murder? Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur molli

I had always wanted to be a hero like Larry LaSalle and all the others, but have been a fake all along. And now I am tired of the deception and have to rid myself of the fakery. I look away from him, out the window at the sun-splashed street. "I'm not a hero” I tell him.

Related Characters: Francis Cassavant (speaker), Larry LaSalle

Page Number and Citation: 112

Explanation and Analysis:

Francis is about to admit aloud for the first time that he fell on the grenade in France not to save his platoon but to kill himself quickly with honor. As he prepares to unburden himself to Larry, Francis comes up against the falsity of his old view of heroism, a view dominated by one dimensional “heroes” who needed only victory or popularity to claim their status. At the end of his childhood, Francis finally saw that his hero Larry was dangerously flawed, even though he was a hero in the “adult world” due to his actions in the war. Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Volu

Everybody sins, Francis. The terrible thing is that we love our sins. We love the thing that makes us evil

Related Characters: Larry LaSalle (speaker), Nicole Renard, Francis Cassavant

Page Number and Citation: 115

Explanation and Analysis:

Trying to explain his crime of raping Nicole to Francis, Larry touches upon the trouble with heroes in general — at the root of every hero is a human being who, by nature, is flawed in some way or another. Thus, the trouble with absolute heroes is that it is exceedingly rare to find one without any secrets or flaws. The question then left for Francis, the readers, and society in general, becomes one of nuances: how flawed is too flawed? While Larry is beyond saving, in his own mind, he sees his flaws as secondary to his acts of Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut venia

Downstairs, at last, after what seems like a long, long time, I pause at the outside door. The sound of a pistol shot cracks the air. My hand is on the doorknob. The sound from this distance is almost like that of a Ping-Pong ball striking the table.

Related Characters: Francis Cassavant (speaker), Larry LaSalle

Page Number and Citation: 118

Explanation and Analysis:

Literally and symbolically, Francis is finally turning his back on his childhood as he leaves Larry’s tenement. By likening the fatal pistol shot to the sound of a Ping-Pong ball — a central part of Francis’ childhood and relationship with Larry — Cormier shows how Francis’ is acknowledging the death of his childhood. Intentionally, the two halves of Francis’ simile are a stark juxtaposition, however, Francis admits that it is not a perfect match, showing that he has a better understanding of perspective as an adult. Essentially, he shows that while Ping-Pong was a large part of his childhood, he Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor a

My good Francis. My table tennis champion. My Silver Star hero." Hero. The word hangs in the air. "I don't know what a hero is anymore, Nicole." I think of Larry LaSalle and his Silver Star. And my own Silver Star, for an act of cowardice. "Write about it, Francis. Maybe you can find the answer that way."

Related Characters: Francis Cassavant (speaker), Nicole Renard (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 131

Explanation and Analysis:

With this exchange towards the end of Francis and Nicole’s final reunion, Cormier explicitly lays out the different iterations of heroism shown throughout the novel: the childhood heroics of Francis’ Ping-Pong career; the Silver Star Hero who saved his men with violence but also raped a teenage girl; the Silver Star Hero who sacrificed himself for his platoon but out of a desire to commit suicide. By placing all of these moments of “heroism” side by side by side, Cormier implies that no one version is the “true” definition of heroism, showing how it can be a subjective term. With Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut ali

I remember what I said to Nicole about not knowing who the real heroes are and I think of my old platoon…I think of Enrico, minus his legs, his arm. I think of Arthur Rivier, drunk and mournful that night in the alley. We were only there. Scared kids, not born to fight and kill. Who were not only there but who stayed, did not run away, fought the good war. And never talk about it. And didn't receive a Silver Star. But heroes, anyway. The real heroes.

Related Characters: Francis Cassavant (speaker), Enrico Rucelli, Arthur Rivier

Page Number and Citation: 134

Explanation and Analysis:

Finally, at the close of the novel, Francis shows a true understanding of the nuances of heroism. With his new definition of heroism, he captures the idea of true bravery: the acknowledgement of fear but the understanding that one needs to press on despite it. In his phrase “the good war” he also touches upon the fact that there was a very strong moral component to World War II: stopping the Nazi led Holocaust. Francis here makes no mention of revenge or of serving ones country, but of protecting the vulnerable and standing up for what is right. Ultimately, Francis’s Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi ne

Francis Cassavant Character Timeline in Heroes

The timeline below shows where the character Francis Cassavant appears in Heroes. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Francis begins his narration by announcing that, since the war has finally ended, he has returned... (full context)

After explaining his wounds, Francis begins to detail the ways in which he hides them. Namely, he never goes out... (full context)

Using some of the back pay he received during his time in the war hospital, Francis anonymously rents a room in Mrs. Belander’s tenement house. Even though he used to run... (full context)

Anonymous still, Francis returns to St. Jude Church where he was once an altar boy and offers up... (full context)

Back in his rented room, Francis tends to his wounds while reminiscing about his time in the war hospital. First he... (full context)

Francis ignored Enrico’s joke while claiming that he wasn’t a hero and admitting that he would... (full context)

The narrative flashes back to the beginning of Francis’s relationship with Nicole Renard, starting on the very first day he lays eyes on her... (full context)

After a brief exchange of glances, Francis decides that Nicole is the most beautiful girl he has ever seen, silently pledging her... (full context)

Finally, Nicole passes Francis in the hallway and gently teases him, leaving Francis speechless in her wake. He agonizes... (full context)

Later on in the summer, Francis and his friend Joey LeBlanc are walking through Frenchtown when they spot Nicole at a... (full context)

Back in the present, Francis stalks the streets of Frenchtown, returning to Nicole’s apartment building to confirm for himself that... (full context)

Upon seeing that Nicole is, in fact, gone, Francis has another flashback to the war, this time to a night he spent reminiscing with... (full context)

After being shooed away by the new occupants of Nicole’s old apartment, Francis returns to his boardinghouse where Mrs. Belander offers him soup and finally asks for his... (full context)

As night falls, Francis begins his nightly ritual as he prepares to fall asleep. He begins by reciting the... (full context)

Heading deeper into his flashback, Francis sees himself in a small alley when two German soldiers round the corner; instinctively Francis... (full context)

Upon waking, Francis realizes that he was reliving his flashback in his dream. While he admits that the... (full context)

Against his better judgment, Francis sets out to visit the Wreck Center. However, he is intercepted on his way by... (full context)

In the club, Francis silently sips his beer while the other veterans discuss their plans now that the war... (full context)

As the men return to the discussion of their future careers, Francis slips out of the bar unnoticed and heads towards the Wreck Center, his scarf and... (full context)

Standing before the boarded-up Wreck Center, Francis begins to recall its bloody past as Grenier’s Hall. A place for wedding receptions and... (full context)

Moving forward in time, Francis then begins to reminisce about the building’s transformation into the Frenchtown Rec. Center—a transformation that... (full context)

...and crafts, and calisthenics. Looking for a place in which he could finally fit in, Francis joined the Wreck Center crew, albeit timidly at first. As the cult of personality around... (full context)

...Larry’s star pupil, she easily stood out from the rest of the dancers, further captivating Francis’ attention. One day, she said hello to Francis and he was able to muster enough... (full context)

As Francis recalls being angry with Joey LeBlanc for his constant predictions that doom and suffering would... (full context)

It has now been a month since Francis returned to Frenchtown; pleasantly, he notes how the townspeople, familiar with his presence, now smile... (full context)

Hoping to hear information about Larry, Francis continues to frequent the St. Jude Club. Although he never joins in on the conversations... (full context)

Spurred to emotion by Francis’ sudden question, Arthur leads a toast to “the patron saint of the Wreck Center.” Then,... (full context)

In the midst of the toasts and reminiscing, Arthur leans in close to Francis and tells him that he recognizes Francis’s voice. Francis admits, finally, to his real identity,... (full context)

Francis begins another childhood flashback with the day that Larry saw him dejectedly sitting on the... (full context)

Wanting to help Francis, Larry convinces him to return to the Wreck Center the following day to start lessons... (full context)

At the end of the first lesson, Larry convinces Francis to stick with Ping-Pong, giving him a new sense of purpose at the Wreck Center.... (full context)

While Francis is in the Wreck Center practicing Ping-Pong, he begins to notice how Nicole is not... (full context)

On the day of the tournament, Nicole approaches Francis who finally musters enough courage to tell her he loves to watch her dance. She... (full context)

As Francis just begins to savor his moment of victory, Joey LeBlanc calls out for Francis to... (full context)

Halfway through the game, Francis realizes that Larry had been letting him win. At the last point, Francis grows hesitant,... (full context)

In the midst of the celebration, Nicole approaches Francis and calls him “my champion,” reminding him that she wants him to attend a party... (full context)

Back in the present, Francis is restlessly wandering the streets at night when he encounters Arthur Rivier drunk and slumped... (full context)

Helping him to his feet, Francis asks Arthur what he means, and Arthur enters a brief moment of lucidity. Confiding in... (full context)

Before the other veterans reach Francis and Arthur, Arthur has fallen asleep. Whispering “poor Arthur,” the veterans pick up their drunken... (full context)

Francis picks up his childhood flashback with the day Larry announces his decision to enlist in... (full context)

Starting with the closing of the Wreck Center in Larry’s absence, Francis begins to recount some of the major changes to Frenchtown during the war: the kids... (full context)

Luckily for Francis, Nicole begins to frequent the drugstore, giving him more opportunities to speak to his crush.... (full context)

At the cinema, Francis, Nicole, and the rest of Frenchtown also began to see the “war reels:” short vignettes... (full context)

One day as Francis and Nicole walk home after their date, they pass the now shuttered Wreck Center, remembering... (full context)

Francis enters into a rare flashback to the time after his injury but before his return... (full context)

Back in Frenchtown, Francis stands in front of a mirror to assess his wounds, and while he admits that... (full context)

Ultimately, Francis reminds himself that his wounds healing or not healing is a trivial matter since he... (full context)

Francis resumes his childhood flashback with his most painful memory of all: Larry’s return from the... (full context)

...Larry still has the touch of movie star grace that he had before the war, Francis notes how there was a certain lethality to Larry now, a sharpness around him that... (full context)

...floods into their old haunt, playing Ping-Pong and dancing late into the night, until only Francis, Nicole, and Larry remain. (full context)

...in the Dark:” the song the two had danced to often before the war. Taking Francis aside, then, Larry says Francis must be tired and that maybe he should head home.... (full context)

As Francis draws near the exit, Larry flicks off the lights, and Francis suddenly decides he cannot... (full context)

Bursting through the darkness, a battered Nicole goes to leave the Wreck Center, spotting Francis as he steps out from the shadows towards her. Nicole, however, waves him off, her... (full context)

Larry, unaware that Francis had witnessed his horrendous crime, leaves the Wreck Center, casually whistling “Dancing in the Dark.”... (full context)

Still in shock, Francis begins a three-day vigil outside of Nicole’s apartment building, hoping that eventually she will emerge... (full context)

Finally, on the fourth day of Francis’ vigil, Nicole emerges from her apartment to confront Francis. Her voice is noticeably harsh as... (full context)

Later in the week, Francis sneaks into St Jude Church at night, hiding in the confessional until the janitor leaves... (full context)

Now more conscious of his actions, Francis thinks about the shame that his suicide would bring to his family name, and how... (full context)

Back in the present, Francis learns through eavesdropping on his landlady and her neighbor that Larry has finally returned to... (full context)

Standing in front of Larry’s apartment building with his gun in his pocket, Francis readies himself to murder his former hero. He reminds himself one last time that Larry... (full context)

Francis knocks on Larry’s door, entering as Larry calls out from within. Larry, sitting in a... (full context)

Francis, however, remains standing as Larry begins to reminisce about their Wreck Center glory days, his... (full context)

Quickly though, Larry snaps back to reality, rubbing his stiff legs and remarking to Francis that not all wounds are visible. Further explaining, Larry mentions that the doctors claim he... (full context)

Moving the conversation back to Francis, Larry brings up Francis’ own Silver Star, remarking that he went into the war a... (full context)

Confused, Larry asks Francis why he had wanted to die so badly. Realizing in that instance that Larry really... (full context)

Larry, ever the smooth talker, begins to comfort Francis, telling him that there was nothing he could have done to stop it, since after... (full context)

Tired of the dramatics, Larry asks Francis why he really came to visit. In response, Francis draws his pistol, and with a... (full context)

Unfazed by the gun in his face, Larry tells Francis that he couldn’t resist “sweet young things,” that “everybody sins” yet they love their sins... (full context)

Once again, Francis simply replies that Larry should be asking Nicole, not him. As he stares down the... (full context)

Still unfazed by the gun aimed at him, Larry becomes dismissive, explaining to Francis how he has all but lost his legs to the war: no more dancing, no... (full context)

Impatient at last, Francis tells Larry to say his prayers and takes aim at his heart. Larry, however, cries... (full context)

With an air of seriousness, Larry begins to explain to Francis that he too has a pistol, one that he often takes out of its box... (full context)

Begging now, Larry pleads with Francis to put down his gun, saying that he wasn’t a cold-blooded murderer at heart. Finally,... (full context)

His final mission now complete, Francis visits the nuns in their convent, asking for Sister Mathilde, his and Nicole’s former 7th... (full context)

When Sister Mathilde arrives, Francis respectfully removes his Red Sox cap and introduces himself by his real name. After pleasantries,... (full context)

Thankfully for Francis, Sister Mathilde explains that Nicole and her family simply moved back to Albany. When pressed,... (full context)

Thinking that a familiar face might be a nice surprise for Nicole, Sister Mathilde gives Francis her new address in Albany. Before Francis leaves, Sister Mathilde gently tells him she hopes... (full context)

In Albany, Francis finally comes face to face with Nicole in an empty classroom at her new parochial... (full context)

Hesitantly, Nicole approaches Francis, maintaining a cordial distance. After she expresses concern over Francis’ wounds, he tries to reassure... (full context)

...her new school where the nuns are less strict. After a pause, she apologizes to Francis for blaming him for her rape. She explains how she had gone to his house... (full context)

Joining Nicole to look out the classroom window at a tennis match, Francis tentatively asks if Nicole had heard the news of Larry’s suicide. Nicole replies that yes,... (full context)

Turning the tables, Nicole then asks Francis what his plans are now that the war is over. Again, ready with a practiced... (full context)

A back and forth ensues, with Nicole insisting she is “all right” and Francis pushing back, asking her if she had ever spoken to anyone about her trauma. This... (full context)

Sadly, Francis realizes that his presence probably brings back bad memories for Nicole, though she assures him... (full context)

An awkward silence falls over the room again, broken when Nicole moves to touch Francis’ bandages, murmuring “your poor face.” Pulling away, Francis protests, saying he does not want Nicole... (full context)

Trying to give Nicole one last gift, Francis stands to leave, and Nicole quickly adds that must return to class soon. As they... (full context)

As Nicole turns to leave at last, Francis asks if he can visit her again, hating himself for asking a question to which... (full context)

Back in the Albany train station, Francis looks around him, taking in the crowd of civilians, soldiers, and veterans. Remembering his words... (full context)

Francis realizes, finally, that to him, those were the true heroes: the scared kids who stayed... (full context)

Thinking about his future for the first time, Francis runs through the list of things he could and should do. He muses, maybe he... (full context)

One last time, Francis thinks of Nicole, and then of the gun in his duffel bag. Slinging his bag... (full context)

Francis Cassavant Character Analysis

Francis Cassavant Quotes in Heroes

Chapter 1 Quotes

Chapter 2 Quotes

Chapter 3 Quotes

Chapter 5 Quotes

Chapter 6 Quotes

Chapter 7 Quotes

Chapter 8 Quotes

Chapter 9 Quotes

Chapter 11 Quotes

Chapter 12 Quotes

Chapter 14 Quotes

Chapter 16 Quotes

Chapter 17 Quotes

Francis Cassavant Character Timeline in Heroes