Chapter Twelve, Cry of the Hunters, is the final chapter to Lord of the Flies. Jack and his tribe of savages hunt down Ralph, lighting the entire island on fire in the process. Ralph is actually betrayed by Sam, but that's because Sam is afraid of his punishment. In the very end, Ralph is chased RIGHT into his rescuer, and immediately the hunt stops. Once in the presence of a more formal representation of society (a naval officer) the boys forget the huge change they went through all those days (how long were they even there?) and go back to being little English schoolboys again.
I think it's really ironic how Ralph kept insisting throughout the entire book that it was the fire that was going to save them all, and you get an impression that HE will be the one that saves the boys. But in reality, it's Jack who has the fire lit, and it's Jack's fire that is seen by the naval officer's ship. All the times the boys had the fire lit on the mountain and on the beach, it went unnoticed, but the ONE time Jack demanded that the fire be lit, it worked.
I can't help but wonder what might have happened AFTER the end of the book. I know the story was purely fictional, but still. How would the boys return to regular society after being turned into savages? I mean, Roger would probably have some major issues, seeing as he killed Piggy intentionally and beat up countless other boys. Poor Ralph was the only one that had sense in the end, and do we even know what happened to the littleuns? Overall, I loved the book, and I thought it was a great study of human nature. I got a lot out of it that I didn't realize I would, and it was a great learning experience.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Chapter Eleven
This chapter was called Castle Rock, and that was where most of it took place. First off, however, the remaining Ralph-tribe decide that they need to go to Castle Rock and demand that Piggy have his specs back. So, the boys go (along with the conch) and try to storm Castle Rock. Sure enough, Ralph and Jack get into a fight and the next thing we know, Roger releases the stone that was meant for the "beast" and both kills Piggy and breaks the conch. Bad move by him, to say the least. SamnEric are captured, and Ralph is forced to run away into the forest.
Two VERY important symbols were basically demolished in this chapter. Piggy, who was basically the closest thing they had to an adult (he was even-tempered, logical, intelligent), was killed. He represented order and logic, and his death symbolized anarchy. The conch, which was also very representative of law and order, was smashed to pieces. It kind of makes sense that these two symbols leave the book at the same time, because they kind of go hand in hand with each other. Without the conch, Piggy never gets to speak. But without Piggy, sometimes Jack rendered the conch useless.
Jack continues to think that he's all-powerful. He even says "You keep to your end. This is my end and my tribe" to Ralph, even though Ralph was clearly the elected leader even from the beginning (176). Not only has Jack destroyed everything good on the island (Simon, Piggy, the conch, the fire), but now he wants Ralph gone, too.
Two VERY important symbols were basically demolished in this chapter. Piggy, who was basically the closest thing they had to an adult (he was even-tempered, logical, intelligent), was killed. He represented order and logic, and his death symbolized anarchy. The conch, which was also very representative of law and order, was smashed to pieces. It kind of makes sense that these two symbols leave the book at the same time, because they kind of go hand in hand with each other. Without the conch, Piggy never gets to speak. But without Piggy, sometimes Jack rendered the conch useless.
Jack continues to think that he's all-powerful. He even says "You keep to your end. This is my end and my tribe" to Ralph, even though Ralph was clearly the elected leader even from the beginning (176). Not only has Jack destroyed everything good on the island (Simon, Piggy, the conch, the fire), but now he wants Ralph gone, too.
Chapter Ten
Chapter Ten was titled The Shell and the Glasses. Ralph, Piggy, and SamnEric sort of silently agree that they shouldn't speak about Simon's murder, and they also try to sort of act like they didn't take part in it. They totally did. On Jack's side of the island, he is plotting to have another pig roast, and he realizes that he needs some fire. Instead of being civilized about it, he decides to steal Piggy's glasses and start the fire for himself. Jack really is power hungry and mean, and I feel like I could even compare him to those stereotypical business men who do just about anything to get on top. Pretty ruthless, I'd say. Jack having the specs most likely feels like a new power to him, and he's already proven he'll do just about anything to have his precious power.
By now, the descent from well-mannered, proper English schoolboys to complete and total savages is basically complete. We can clearly see how each boy in the book represents something, and how the island as a whole is like a mini-society. Now the boys are REALLY behaving like adults, as they are practically waging war on each other.
I also find it incredibly ironic that Jack and Ralph were once friends. In the beginning of the book, when Ralph, Simon, and Jack went on the little exploration together, Ralph totally ditches Piggy to be with Jack, who is obviously the more socially dominant friend. Even through this Piggy sticks by Ralph's side, going so far as to yell at people when they don't listen to him. And then, when Jack ditches Ralph, Piggy is STILL Ralph's right hand man, always quick to give him a bit of wise advice. Personally, I've seen relationships like this before, and it's obvious the Piggy-type person who is the true friend in all of it.
By now, the descent from well-mannered, proper English schoolboys to complete and total savages is basically complete. We can clearly see how each boy in the book represents something, and how the island as a whole is like a mini-society. Now the boys are REALLY behaving like adults, as they are practically waging war on each other.
I also find it incredibly ironic that Jack and Ralph were once friends. In the beginning of the book, when Ralph, Simon, and Jack went on the little exploration together, Ralph totally ditches Piggy to be with Jack, who is obviously the more socially dominant friend. Even through this Piggy sticks by Ralph's side, going so far as to yell at people when they don't listen to him. And then, when Jack ditches Ralph, Piggy is STILL Ralph's right hand man, always quick to give him a bit of wise advice. Personally, I've seen relationships like this before, and it's obvious the Piggy-type person who is the true friend in all of it.
Chapter Nine
Chapter Nine was called A View to a Death, and it was mainly about the brutal, yet unintentional, murder of Simon. In the beginning, Simon dragged himself up to the mountain to find the real beast (which is weird, because wasn't he just passed out?) and instead finds the rotting parachuter. He unties the "beast" and then starts down the mountain to tell his peers that the beast really isn't real. Meanwhile, Jack is having a little hunting party and invites Ralph and Piggy, even though they aren't exactly on good terms. They begin to have a little tribal dance-thing, where they chant around Roger (the pretend-pig) and reenact the killing of the pig. They have that really disturbing little mantra that goes "Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood! Do him in!" and they are saying this as Simon (who is exhausted beyond the belief) comes stumbling out of the forest (152). Half-thinking he was the beast, they attack him with spears. I'm not exactly sure, but I'm pretty sure that Ralph and Piggy are aware that it's Simon. The author even includes a little dialog piece where Simon says something, and that's right before they jump him.
This chapter was short, and the killing of Simon was quick and frenzied. I think that was exactly how the author was trying to portray Simon's murder; chaotic and confusing. Overall, this chapter did a really great job at highlighting the boys' new found insanity.
This chapter was short, and the killing of Simon was quick and frenzied. I think that was exactly how the author was trying to portray Simon's murder; chaotic and confusing. Overall, this chapter did a really great job at highlighting the boys' new found insanity.
Chapter Eight
Chapter Eight was called A Gift for Darkness, and it starts off with the power struggle we constantly see between Jack and Ralph. The conch, which ultimately symbolizes power and government, is blown by Jack, something that never happened before. Ralph always blew the conch, because Ralph was chief and that was his duty. But Jack totally ignores this, and he goes ahead and calls a meeting. During the meeting, Jack basically twists Ralph's words and makes it seem like he's against the hunters. Jack declares that Ralph "Isn't a proper leader" and then proceeds to storm out of their little civilization because no one agrees with him (126). Also in the chapter, Simon has this insane hallucination with a new character, the Lord of the Flies. The Lord of the Flies isn't really a person, but a pig's head surrounded by flies that Simon thinks is talking to him. The Lord of the Flies claims that HE is the beast, and that Simon was right along; he cannot be killed, because he exists only in their minds.
The Lord of the Flies literally gave me a nightmare the first time I read the book, but now that I read it again, I find that it's actually pretty funny and ironic. In the book, Simon represents a sort of innocence and goodness, but he also has a great deal of logic. He likes seclusion, which some of the other boys think is strange. The Lord of the Flies basically tells Simon things that he has been thinking all along. I sort of think that The Lord of the Flies was a part of Simon's conscious, telling him to both recognize that what he originally thought was correct, and also telling him that he needed to let go of that want to be alone. I think his conscious self knew that the boys thought he was "batty", so he was trying to save Simon, not frighten him.
When The Lord of the Flies is speaking, I found one particular line VERY interesting. The Lord of the Flies says that the boys are being silly, that Simon is being silly, because he cannot be killed. I think Golding was portraying the fact that though we may not realize it, fear lives inside each and everyone one of our heads. Simon doesn't appear to be very scared of anything, he even SAYS that he doesn't believe in the beast, yet he starts having visions of something that sounds incredibly scary. I believe that The Lord of the Flies symbolizes the fear that every one has, the fear that gets amplified so much when the boys are put in such a difficult situation.
The Lord of the Flies literally gave me a nightmare the first time I read the book, but now that I read it again, I find that it's actually pretty funny and ironic. In the book, Simon represents a sort of innocence and goodness, but he also has a great deal of logic. He likes seclusion, which some of the other boys think is strange. The Lord of the Flies basically tells Simon things that he has been thinking all along. I sort of think that The Lord of the Flies was a part of Simon's conscious, telling him to both recognize that what he originally thought was correct, and also telling him that he needed to let go of that want to be alone. I think his conscious self knew that the boys thought he was "batty", so he was trying to save Simon, not frighten him.
When The Lord of the Flies is speaking, I found one particular line VERY interesting. The Lord of the Flies says that the boys are being silly, that Simon is being silly, because he cannot be killed. I think Golding was portraying the fact that though we may not realize it, fear lives inside each and everyone one of our heads. Simon doesn't appear to be very scared of anything, he even SAYS that he doesn't believe in the beast, yet he starts having visions of something that sounds incredibly scary. I believe that The Lord of the Flies symbolizes the fear that every one has, the fear that gets amplified so much when the boys are put in such a difficult situation.
Chapter Seven
In this chapter, the symbolism of the ocean is first introduced. Ralph gazes out at it, thinking about how vast it is and how much of a barrier it is. I think that's exactly what the ocean is supposed to represent in the story; the barrier between real civilization and real society, and then tiny civilization and mock-society that is present on the island. Also, the boys are continuing on their hunt for the beast, and they run into a pig-run. The pig-run leads them deep into the forest, and they end of finding the pig and Ralph injures it. It is also at this time that we come to understand how much more savage the boys are than in the beginning. Ralph has some sort of sadistic excitement at hurting the animal, and all the other boys are practically giddy with thought of slaughter. In normal society, this would be viewed as mentally insane, yet the boys find it normal. It's a little bit beyond twisted.
I feel that the most prominent part in the chapter was when the boys reenacted the pig hunt. Robert acted as the pig, and at first it was all good fun; all of the boys were joking around. But then some of the boys shifted from playfulness to apparently unintentional aggressiveness, and they started jabbing their spears at Robert. Golding actually says that Robert "Squealed in mock terror, then in real pain" (144).
The book ended with Ralph, Jack, and Roger finally climb the mountain and find the "beast". Of course, it's SO not the beast, and they don't even bother to inspect it. For all their talk, the boys fail to come through for their tribe; they just drop their spears and run. The ending of the chapter truly shows just how young the boys are.
I feel that the most prominent part in the chapter was when the boys reenacted the pig hunt. Robert acted as the pig, and at first it was all good fun; all of the boys were joking around. But then some of the boys shifted from playfulness to apparently unintentional aggressiveness, and they started jabbing their spears at Robert. Golding actually says that Robert "Squealed in mock terror, then in real pain" (144).
The book ended with Ralph, Jack, and Roger finally climb the mountain and find the "beast". Of course, it's SO not the beast, and they don't even bother to inspect it. For all their talk, the boys fail to come through for their tribe; they just drop their spears and run. The ending of the chapter truly shows just how young the boys are.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Chapter Six
Chapter Six was titled Beast From Air, and it featured each of the boys. The main event in the chapter was Sam n' Eric finding the "beast" on the mountaintop. In their fear, they didn't take a good look at it and when they told Ralph and Piggy about it, they overexaggerated it. The boys don't understand what the "beast" REALLY is, because they refuse to take a good look at it before they run away. Sam n' Eric say that the beast was chasing them, yet it didn't really. The boys then decide that they MUST find the beast, and that they haven't sufficiently explored the island. Piggy is left with the littleuns, and the boys find a part of the island that they didn't know existed. Ralph finds that the boys are slightly more loyal to Jack in terms of hunting, and that is how the chapter ends.
This chapter featured strong characterization of the relationship between Jack and Ralph. There was always that slight conflict between them, which you can trace all the way back to one of the first chapters where Ralph wins over Jack for leader. But Jack holds on to that grudge with Ralph, and it shows a LOT in the chapter. Jack reacts negatively whenever Ralph says anything, no matter what it is, which is a little childish. Also, I was very surprised that Ralph wanted to go and be the leader on the expediton on the cliff. "'I'm chief. I'll go. Don't argue'", is what he says (page 104).
Overall, I liked the chapter a lot. The struggle for power between Jack and Ralph entertains me a lot, and I like how things on the island are starting to change.
This chapter featured strong characterization of the relationship between Jack and Ralph. There was always that slight conflict between them, which you can trace all the way back to one of the first chapters where Ralph wins over Jack for leader. But Jack holds on to that grudge with Ralph, and it shows a LOT in the chapter. Jack reacts negatively whenever Ralph says anything, no matter what it is, which is a little childish. Also, I was very surprised that Ralph wanted to go and be the leader on the expediton on the cliff. "'I'm chief. I'll go. Don't argue'", is what he says (page 104).
Overall, I liked the chapter a lot. The struggle for power between Jack and Ralph entertains me a lot, and I like how things on the island are starting to change.
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