Chapters 10-12

The feeling given in the last few chapters is one of excitement and confusion. To put it into words would be to call it the musical term, a “crescendo”, which is the gradual buildup of excitement and actions to a peak. That is exactly what happens as the kids on the lone island fight for their lives. The crescendo starts at the beginning of chapter 10 when Simon is killed, and Ralph is asking Piggy “Are you the only one left”(171)? Ralph is beat up and learning how mad the others have gone, and is concerned for he thinks that there my be very little population who do not follow Jack. There is still the regular increase of tension between Jack and Ralph, which is contributing to the crescendo. This tension is what leads to the hate and disgust between the two groups and the inability to work together. There is only one source of fire, and both want it, so the crescendo increases when they must battle to obtain Piggy’s specs. The one group wants the specs for a smoke signal, and the other group wanting it for making fire for cooking. The hunting group being more violent continues the crescendo when they decide to make an attack to obtain the specs. Ralph’s group gets a little “busted” (185) up a little, with a little blood spilt, but fought back and “smashed them up” (184) aswell. Jacks group was successful in obtaining the specs, giving foreshadowing that there could be a battle in the future with more loss. The crescendo keeps continuing to its peak as Ralph and his crew approach Jack that would lead to the death of Piggy. From there, samneric would be converted to Jacks group, and Ralph is all alone, until the whole group is rescued. This crescendo is a useful tool used by William Golding to show the increase of excitement and the building up of the climax. After the climax, the story settles itself in an orderly manor, restoring order to the children’s lives.

Chapters 7-9

In chapters 7-9, I noticed there to be many references to "the beast" of the mountain, in a way that is a motif. The beast, which is created by illusions and disbelief in the children’s minds, is a roadblock for the kids in how they cannot carry out their daily routines having to worry about the beast. Once they believe that there is a beast, they no longer want to go into the forest alone and they stick closer together. The beast initially creates fear in their minds, constantly thinking about how horrible this monster is, and makes everyone very cautious around everyone else. There is also a lot of taunting going on, and making fun of one another because of their fear of the beast. When one seems hesitant to lead the group somewhere in the forest, Jack might say "If you're frightened of course" (130), than you shouldn't be chief or the leader of us (directed at Ralph). Three of the boys go on a search for the beast and what they find brings more fear into the plot, and they say and believe that they have actually seen it. The increase of fear from the beast also created more and more tension between Jack and Ralph. Jack continuously taunts Ralph, and Ralph hates it. Ralph says to himself the he "heard the mockery and hated Jack. The sting of ashes in his eyes, tiredness, fear, enraged him"(132). The fear of the beast gradually decreases as the children start doing other things to preoccupy their time and take their minds off the beast. Eventually everyone is roaming the forests again hunting for pig and when catching pig, leaving a part of it behind for the beast. The decrease of fear made Simon go looking for the beast himself to see what was the truth. Determined to find an answer "he pushed on, staggering sometimes with his weariness but never stopping"(161). Simon discovered that there was nothing to be afraid of, but as he ran to tell the others, the others were not in a state of open ears.

Chapters 4-6

These chapters show a lot of confusion and disruption. The whole group seems to be falling apart. The main symbol of this part is dissipation. As Ralph tries to keep the group together, everyone scatters. The work ethic, the conch, and the bonds between characters are breaking apart. People just stop doing their jobs, such as when a distant ship is seen on the horizon, Piggy says, "I can't see no smoke"(69) which if they had stuck to the plan, they could have been rescued that day. Ralph is enraged by the behaviours as other, and shows it as he is furious and announces, "They let the bloody fire out"(71). As chief, it is Ralph's job to pull everyone together in an assembly, and he uses recent examples show explain everyone’s actions. An example chosen was the shelters, and that "we all build the first one, four of us the second, and me ' n ' Simon build the last one over there"(85). The group of children also stops getting fresh water for everyone, and instead just drink from the river, and everyone also stops using the designated washroom and just goes where ever they want, and Ralph notices that the island starts getting dirty and unpleasant fast. During the accusing of the assembly the audience gets annoyed and there are large argument, which cause Ralph to blow the conch again to calm everyone and get their attention. The conch is passed around and everyone is talking during the time that someone has the conch, which breaks one of the few laws they have. The conch starts to lose its effectiveness as when people don’t like what someone is saying, they start talking and drowned out the person with the conch. Almost everyone someone new has the conch, everyone starts making noise and constantly Ralph has to say "Hear him! He's got the conch!"(96) but still everyone makes noise. Assembly after assembly, the same deal happens, until finally Jack says "we don’t need the conch anymore"(110). The conch is rendered useless after no one will listen to it anymore. The conch brings tension to the friendships and causes issues in who is worth listening to and who isn’t. Jack and Ralph are constantly arguing about hunting and the fire, and they feel at times that they do not like each other. Also Jack shows constant dislike towards Piggy, and even says, "Who cares what you believe - Fatty!"(97). In addition, the big kids are constantly annoyed with the little kids, who sit around and do nothing all day. There is lots of name calling in assemblies and cutting the little kids short when they have the conch to talk. All of these conflicts make me believe that the beast of the island is everyone on the island, and there will be evil events that happen between everyone. The group seems separated from each other, and at times, almost in full out chaos. If they plan on living on the island together peacefully, they will need to iron out the wrinkles in their friendships, and work together to get rescued.

Chapters 1 - 3

Through the first three chapters, the characters of the book “Lord of Flies” are revealed to us gradually. These characters have bonded together after some sort of crash or accident, where only these kids are left. The first thing I notice about these characters is that they are generally outgoing. After a crash where you do not know where you are and do not know who everyone is, it is reasonable to assume that they would be shy, timid, and/or scared. But these characters bond together and start to get a group going to help each other and survive. Ralph, the designated leader is very outgoing, as we learn from the very beginning as “he leapt back on the terrace, pulled off his shirt, and stood there among the skull-like coco-nuts with green shadows from the palms and the forest sliding over his skin. He undid the snake-clasp of his belt, lugged off his shorts and pants, and stood there naked, looking at the dazzling beach and the water”(Golding 4,5). Here Ralph is, standing naked, with piggy close-by, as they go looking for more kids. If I was on a strange island with strange kids, I do not think I would be stripping down in front of them. That goes to show what the environment and atmosphere is like on the island. It is hot, and the kids can do what ever they want. I find it surprising that the kids would actually think to create a gang and work together at their young age. Ralph really shows leadership in how he initiates the meetings with the conch shell and takes control by making decisions. Jack also shows good leadership. I see Jack and Ralph working well together for the good of the kids. Piggy rather seems like the kid everyone is going to make fun of, and will always want to do something, but no one will listen. There are many differences between all the characters, but the same goal is shared, which I think is quite helpful for the benefit of the group to survive.