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.