Larry LaSalle Character Analysis in Heroes

Larry, a young war veteran from Francis’s hometown, is the novel’s antagonist. Athletic, graceful, and charismatic, Larry is a hero in the lives of the children of Monument; he is a source of entertainment and encouragement (as he runs the local recreation center, known as the Wreck Center), and he’s also proof that even someone from their sleepy town can become a success. Despite outwardly framing his decision to enlist in the army as fulfilling his patriotic duty, Larry goes to war after the bombing of Pearl Harbor looking for revenge, betraying a penchant for violence under his “movie star” exterior. While on furlough, his cruelty comes home when rapes Nicole Renard in the Wreck Center while a terrified Francis stands in the shadows. When confronted by a vengeful Francis, Larry seems defeated and haunted by his past, and he ultimately talks Francis out of committing murder with the promise that he will commit suicide instead. Whether Larry is succumbing to his feelings of guilt and despair or lifting up his former pupil one last time by making Francis “better than he is,” his suicide concludes the cycle of violence he started when he raped Nicole.

Larry LaSalle Quotes in Heroes

The Heroes quotes below are all either spoken by Larry LaSalle or refer to Larry LaSalle. 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:

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

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

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), Nicole Renard, Larry LaSalle

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

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

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), Larry LaSalle, Nicole Renard

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

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

Larry LaSalle Character Timeline in Heroes

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

...Raymond, Nicole Renard, and finally he fights back his feelings of guilt and prays for Larry LaSalle, the man he intends to murder. (full context)

...all mixed together, Francis steels himself with the thought of his current mission to murder Larry LaSalle. (full context)

After the renovations were completed, Larry LaSalle appeared in Frenchtown to take control of the Wreck Center, taking on pupils in... (full context)

...in the summer, Nicole began to participate in the dance classes at the Wreck Center. Larry’s star pupil, she easily stood out from the rest of the dancers, further captivating Francis’... (full context)

...scarf, and his hat. Accustomed now to this pleasant familiarity, Francis is still impatient for Larry’s return. He carries his pistol around in his duffle bag everywhere he goes, constantly prepared... (full context)

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

...the young men of Frenchtown who had served in the war, including the announcement that Larry had earned the Silver Star for his bravery in combat. With a somber tone, the... (full context)

Francis begins another childhood flashback with the day that Larry saw him dejectedly sitting on the back steps of the Wreck Center. When Larry inquires... (full context)

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

...begins to notice how Nicole is not only a beautiful dancer, but her routines with Larry are becoming more intensely sensual. Eventually, Larry announces that the Wreck Center will host a... (full context)

...begins to savor his moment of victory, Joey LeBlanc calls out for Francis to challenge Larry for the “real championship.” The crowd agrees, chanting along until Francis, riding the wave of... (full context)

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

Francis picks up his childhood flashback with the day Larry announces his decision to enlist in the Marines to get back at the Japanese for... (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:... (full context)

...patriotic “war songs.” It is here at the drugstore that a breathless Nicole announces that Larry has been awarded the Silver Star, news that is later carried to the rest of... (full context)

...not healing is a trivial matter since he plans to kill himself after he murders Larry. Until he accomplishes his last mission, he figures, the anonymity provided by his wounds and... (full context)

Francis resumes his childhood flashback with his most painful memory of all: Larry’s return from the war after being awarded the Silver Star. Initially, though, Francis and the... (full context)

While Larry still has the touch of movie star grace that he had before the war, Francis... (full context)

...cuts through the crowd to announce a big celebration at City Hall in honor of Larry. Larry responds with gratitude, also announcing to the crowd how thrilled he was to be... (full context)

At the celebration, Larry eventually gathers his crew and together they discreetly slip out of the party, carousing through... (full context)

Since all the others have left, Larry asks Nicole to go put on “Dancing in the Dark:” the song the two had... (full context)

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

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

...to inquire with serious if Francis is the boogeyman. Meanwhile, rumors abound as to why Larry suddenly left Frenchtown after only a few days on furlough. (full context)

Back in the present, Francis learns through eavesdropping on his landlady and her neighbor that Larry has finally returned to Frenchtown. While he imagined he would make this discovery in a... (full context)

Standing in front of Larry’s apartment building with his gun in his pocket, Francis readies himself to murder his former... (full context)

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

Francis, however, remains standing as Larry begins to reminisce about their Wreck Center glory days, his old “movie star smile” flitting... (full context)

Quickly though, Larry snaps back to reality, rubbing his stiff legs and remarking to Francis that not all... (full context)

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

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

Larry, ever the smooth talker, begins to comfort Francis, telling him that there was nothing he... (full context)

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

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

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

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

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

...window at a tennis match, Francis tentatively asks if Nicole had heard the news of Larry’s suicide. Nicole replies that yes, she had already heard, and cuts off Francis as he... (full context)

Larry LaSalle Character Analysis

Larry LaSalle Quotes in Heroes

Chapter 1 Quotes

Chapter 5 Quotes

Chapter 6 Quotes

Chapter 7 Quotes

Chapter 9 Quotes

Chapter 11 Quotes

Chapter 14 Quotes

Larry LaSalle Character Timeline in Heroes