1. Choose a passage from chapters 9-12 that shows a significant development or change in one of the novel's characters. (I would prefer that you write about the character you were assigned earlier, but if compelled--or if your character has died--you may write about someone else. Try to pick a passage other classmates have not covered.)
2. In the comment box below write your name, the character, the page number of the passage, and explain how the allegorical significance of the passage and how the passage is important to the novel as a whole.
3. Choose a passage from ch. 9-12 that shows a significant development or change in one of the novel's motifs. (I would prefer that you write about the motif you were assigned earlier, but if compelled you may write about a different object/concept. Try to pick a passage other classmates have not covered.)
4. In the comment box below write your name the motif, the page number of the passage, and explain the allegorical significance of the passage and how the passage is important to the novel as a whole.
5. Respond thoughtfully to someone else's character and/or motif comment. Write your name, the name of the classmate to whom your responding, the name of the character/motif, and a comment.
Post by class on Wednesday, January 9.
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46 comments:
Nicole Miller-Ralph (152)
"Piggy and Ralph, under the threat of the sky, found themselves eager to take a place in this demented but partly secure society. They were glad to touch the brown backs of the fence that hemmed in the terror and made it governable". This quote shows that even Piggy and Ralph, two of the more sensible characters, can be overcome by their animalistic side. Both succumb to the security found in belonging to something larger than themselves. The allure of tossing convention aside and indulging in ritual violence is overpowering. this changes Ralph because it is the point at which he becomes truly frightened, sensing what little structure that had been achieved on the island had perished. They committed murder, so unchecked was their violent/animalistic side. This shows that under the polished exterior civilized humans there, lurks an animal like creature who lives on impulse and desire.
Brian Anderson
Piggy
(177)
" Ralph rembember what we came for. The fire. My specs."
(180)
"which is better to have rules and agree, ot to hunt and kill."
This quote shows which we already know that he is the one of the more conservative and intelligent boys on the island. This section of the book proves that he wants to work together and to act like adults. He is a firm believer in using the conch and having strict rules, and that he wants to get down to buisness. Also, Piggy feels very lost without his glasses and needs them to survive. He demands to get them back and to regroup as one, but the boys force him to his death. He also things that the fire should be used for nothing else besides fire. Piggy also was the scientific part of human society on the island becuase of his glasses being used as a source of fire. His glasses were the source of fire and a belonging to him that gave him a good reason to be there. When they had took his glasses he had been very shooken up and felt like he was missing something big to him.
Leah Palazola
Ralph pg. 155-158
"[It] was murder." Here Ralph is talking to Piggy about how they just participated in killing Simon. Piggy tries to cover it up and say that it was only because it was dark out and they thought he was the beast and they were scared. Ralph on the other hand does not buy this because he realizes that what they did was wrong and very uncivilized. " 'I wasn't scared,' said Ralph slowly, 'I was-I don't know what I was'." The beast within all the other boys has come out already and now so has Ralphs and he starts to realize this. He realizes that he is acting just like the rest of the boys who have become uncontrollable wild animals.
Leah Palazola
Fire
end of ch. 12 (p 195-202)
From the beginning fire has been the one thing that could possibly save the boys. Ralph has stressed this all along however many of the other boys never grasped this concept. By chapter 12 Ralph is officially alone. He has lost Simon and Piggy and all of the other boys have joined Jack's tribe. Once Ralph learns that Jack plans on hunting him, he hids in the forest of the island. Eventually the boys are able to drive Ralph out of the forest into the open. "They had smoked him out and set the island on fire." Jack and the boys have set the island on fire in order to find Ralph. By doing this they not only have let themselves get out of control but they have let the fire as well. Before it was important to maintain the fire for it was the only hope the boys had in getting rescued. However in this case it was the opposite. By allowing the fire wild on the island a naval ship spotted them. "We saw your smoke. What have you been doing? Having a war or something?" The naval officer realized that that is just what the boys were doing and seemed to be sort of embarassed for them because they were not acting civilized at all. However the "adult world" was participating in the same type of events at the time as well. In the end allowing the fire get out of control all over the island is what got the boys rescued. This is important to the overall novel because it dealt with human nature vs. civilization the entire time. How the inner feelings, or beast, lurks within everyone and it is hard to stay connecting to civilization when put in certain tempting circumstances.
Nicole Miller-Fire
"They had smoked him out and set the island on fire". (197)
"now the fire was nearer; those volleying shots were great limbs, trunks even, bursting. The fools! The fools! The fire must be almost at the fruit trees- what would they eat tomorrow". (198)
Since the begining of the book the fire has been both an uncontrollable and destructive force, as well as the only hope of rescue. These quotes show that characters such as Jack decide to use it as a means of destruction. The fire is similar to the boys themselves in the fact that it is an all consuming prescence that destroys the island, just like the boys all consuming animalistic nature destroys civility on the island. I feel that the author is making a statement; saying there are good and bad qualities in humans and if you let the bad overtake the good then it will, inevitably, destroy everything(just like the fire).
Brian Hand
Jack
Pagez 197-202 and kind of in other chapters
The name Jack is Hebrew in origin and means “one who supplants”. This is fitting seeing how Jack has replaced Ralph as the dominant leader following the downfall of civilization on the island. Originally, Jack rationalized his hunting on the basis that the group needs meat. But soon we learn that it is not the meat that makes hunting Jack’s obsession. “…they had outwitted a living thing, imposed their will upon it, taken away its life like a long satisfying drink.” Through this quote we come to learn that what Jack craves in hunting is the feeling of power and domination over living creatures. This is not exclusive to Jack however because in Painted Faces and Long Hair Henry, a littlun is also gained pleasure from “exercising control over living things.” When Jack suggests the horrifying idea of using a littlun as prey in their boar hunt, the group in enthralled by they idea, rather than disgusted. No longer is hunting a means of obtaining meat, but an activity that exercises their savage urges. For a brief passage Jack is simply referred to as “the Chief” as if the savage has permanently replaced the “Jack” of civilized society. Their ultimate prey becomes Ralph, and just like the Lord of the Flies, he is prepared for with a stick sharpened at both ends. This passage proves that the savage instinct, if left unstrained, can become deadly. To fulfill these urges, and with no policemen or order to keep them in check, Jack and his hunters find increasingly deadlier ways to express their desire for power and superiority. When the officer arrives on the beach it is clear just how far this society has regressed. Percival Wemys Madison has trouble saying just that when asked who he is by the officer. When he asks whose boss, the narrator notes that Jack begins to step forward but is stopped, perhaps by the same force that prevented Roger from hitting the littlun with the rocks. Just as civilization had once dominated savagery (Roger not hitting littlun) it is again beginning to be acknowledged by Jack, who steps forward initially only to stop in recognition that his power as he knows it will not exist in a civilized environment. Finally, this passage reflects “man’s ignorance of his own nature” by the naval officer. With his “sub-machine gun” close by he scolds the boys for their deadly play, not realizing that war is an ancestor of what was happening on the island.
The Lord of the Flies
Page 185
Ralph’s encounter with the Lord of the Flies in Cry of the Hunters is a largely allegorical meeting. He comes face to face with the motivation of the hunters that seek his life. Golding’s careful use of language: “as white as the conch ever was” is used to draw comparisons between the two powerful symbols. This contrast has been referenced many times in different ways; Civilization vs. savagery, the shell vs. the pig’s head, Ralph vs. Jack. Golding uses these tools to illustrate these opposing forces exist in all humans. Ralph’s meeting with LOTF draws parallels to Simon’s. Both concentrated hard on the sow. Both realize some significance from it. However, Simon was able to animate this object and learn from it, while Ralph can only violently attack it. He uses the stick sharpened at both ends as a weapon against the hunters, but doesn’t realize what he is holding. In this scene, Ralph is forced to think as the pig he once hunted. Ralph is a human battling a psychological war with himself, and with a lack of sleep. Simon was almost saint-like in his truth seeking. The more relatable Ralph represents the struggles one faces in their own truth seeking.
Michael McGovern
Ralph
Pg.185-202
Before the start of Chapter 12, Ralph was still holding on to the fact that there was a chance to be rescued. Even though Jack was leading a group of savages, Ralph still had hope. However, in this passage Ralph finally sees that there is no hope left for anyone on the island. Ralph is left as the sole "humane" person after both Simon and Piggy are killed and Samneric abandon him for Jack. He finds himself alone and being helplessly chased by Jack's tribe. This is reafirmed when Jack encounters the Lord of the Flies. He sees a white skull "smiling at him" in a mocking mannor. This shows that the Lord of the Flies "had his fun" with Ralph just as he had promised Simon he would. Ralph is then hunted for "only wanting to keep a fire going." Ralph is a firsthand witness to how Jack's tribe has become nothing more than animals as they ruthlessly try to get to Ralph in his hiding place in the thicket. They even use fire (the symbol most related to Ralph) to get him out. After Ralph was chased to the beach and rescued by the naval officer, he begins to "weep for the end of innocence, the darkness of man's heart." Here it is again confirmed that there was no hope left on the island.
The Conch
Pg.181
Throughout the novel, the conch always represented a sense of order and Jack's power as leader. It provided a sense of order, which in turn kept the boys' civilization humane. However, after Roger dropped the rock on Piggy and destroyed the conch, all of this was lost. After the conch was destroyed, Jack immedietly proclaimed himself as chief, showing that even though he was a savage, he still felt that the conch made Ralph the rightful chief. Also, after the conch was destroyed, Golding started calling Jack "The Chief" for the rest of the novel. This demonstrates even further that all civilization was lost when the conch was destroyed. With no conch to demand order and respect, Ralph was left to deal with a savage tribe lacking any humane traits.
Michael McGovern-Brian Hand
Jack
Brian did a great job explaining Jack in the last chapter. He went all out by explaing what Jack's name ment in Hebrew. He also did a good job explaining that Jack wanted more than just to supply meat for the tribe, and that he actually wanted complete control.
Sarah Johnson (E) – Roger (p. 180-182)
Roger as a character has been intriguing to me throughout the book. It begins with the episode in “Painted Faces and Long Hair”, in which the taboo of society and civilization keep Roger from actually hitting the little’un he is throwing rocks at. This begins to change in Chapter 10, “The Shell and the Glasses”, when Roger speaks with Robert about the binding and beating of Wilfred, by “chief”—but without reason. Roger “received this news as an illumination….assimilating the possibilities of irresponsible authority.” Roger starts to see that the boys as a whole are moving away from those taboos, those of crime and punishment, and limits and boundaries, and that they are moving towards the subconscious, irrational actions (like those of the anthropological hunter). This is good news for Roger, who embraces the role of enforcer for the chief – sort of like a bouncer at a club. He is the default guardian of castle rock and the brawn of the law. So when Piggy and Ralph and Jack are having the confrontation, assuming he is thinking about that ‘irresponsible authority’, Roger “with a sense of delirious abandonment, leaned all his weight on the lever”, sending the boulder crashing, destroying Piggy and the conch, both representing society and civilization. This allows for the following actions, in which the entire tribe begins to hunt Ralph like a pig. This is crazy! This is not something people can just do. And yet with the destruction of society by that “delirious abandonment”, Roger unleashes a tide of insane and inexplicable terrors. As Roger comes down from the rock to engage in the happenings, he can’t explain himself when enquired about his actions, as the “hangman’s horror clung round him”. Yet Roger is so lost, that he embraces this title, and continues to menace the boys. When Jack haggles Sam’n’Eric, it is Roger who “advanced on them as one wielding a nameless authority.” Even the boys cannot exactly put a finger on what has changed in Roger, but he has put himself on another level – one in which he significantly “sharpens a stick at both ends” for the head of Ralph- the new pig. Roger has separated himself as a doer – a frightening thing in a pack of young and inexperienced boys.
I was also inspired by Brian to look up the etymology of “Roger”, and it turns out that in Old German, it means “renowned spearman”. I’m thinking that is not a coincidence.
Sarah Johnson – The Island
I was assigned this motif in the beginning, and I’m really glad, because it’s become so prevalent, and I‘ve been fairly aware of it. As in chapter 8, the island/nature was being personified, at least the thunder ‘boomed like a cannon”. The island’s revenge on the boys is clear as the terminate the beast – basically when they kill Simon, they are humbled by a storm. The Island also provides not only life for the boys (food, shade, etc) but it is also the source of their conflict (need for fire in the dark, Castle rock, fear of the mountain top, etc.). So the Island can no longer be interpreted by the thoughtful Simon, (again, thanks to Brian, I had to look it up, and it means “to hear, to be heard” in Hebrew”. Yet another coincidence…) The boys are oblivious to its rage. It is fitting that Castle Rock is bordered by the “densest tangle on the island, a mass of twisted stems, black and green and impenetrable…”. However this particular thicket ironically serves as a hiding place for Ralph from those who wish to harm him. Once again, rocks (a part of nature) are used negatively as a tool for the boys to destroy more of the island to follow their own motives and get to Ralph. In his flight, Ralph seeks refuge from the island once more. In a final effort, the boys, having used fir to smoke him out of the original thicket, have sent the entire island up in flames. This Island, in rebuttal as one may argue, sacrifices itself to be consumed by the fire – which draws the attention of the rescuers that come to take the boys from the island, removing the threat to the balance of nature.
Sarah Johnson – Brian Hand
I’m extremely impressed with Brian’s depth of understanding, and his dedication to look up the etymology of “Jack”. After seeing that, I had to look up the other characters, and it only makes me admire Golding even more for his work. Brian’s explanation of Jack’s desire for power over other living things, and his response to true authority were also very insightful. I find that Brian is overall very comfortable with the book and has quite a command of every motif, as evidenced by his connections between the conch and the Lord of the Flies, and the irony in Ralph’s encounter with it.
Sarah Johnson
Sorry but i forgot to mention the significance in the episode with Roger on p 182, when Piggy is killed. Because when Roger kills Piggy, he takes his place as advisor to the leader (clown), because also as the conch is destroyed, so is society, and therefore Ralph's leadership, since democracy and civilzed voting was how he came to power itn he first place. This means jack has come to full power, with Roger at his side to replace Ralph and Piggy. Quie the turnover.
aaand i forgot to mention that my motif stuff was all mostly on p. 174 (thicket 1), then 195 (smoke) and 197 (thicket2), and 201 (fire).
Emily Philpott
Ralph pg. 156-158
Through these pages we see Ralph and Piggy discussing the murder of Simon. Both of the boys know that what happened was extremely wrong but Piggy makes excuses for why the two of them had even participated, saying that it was dark and that they were just scared of what he could have been. Ralph confesses that he wasn't even scared and he is ashamed to realize how un civiliized he had become. Once again we see Ralph acting very grown up. While he could have went along with the excuses and blamed the incident on other factors, he owns up to what he had done and understands that it was in no way acceptable. This also shows how society and his up bringing has affected him and his decisions.
Emily Philpott
conch pg. 181
" The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist." This passage really shows how the conch represented order and civilness in the novel. Once the conch had been destroyed, any sense of order betwen the boys had been lost and they were acting on their savageness. The conch had a strong representation for something throughout the novel and once the conch was lost, so was what it represented. After Piggy's death and the destruction ofthe conch, the boys had become more like beasts than anything else.
Hannah Benson-Ralph
(pg 149)
Here, it is obvious that Ralph has changed quite a bit as both a leader and a person. Before, he was the one in charge and he was not weary about any decisions that he made. He now must tip-toe around his once faithful followers, and does not stick out in a crowd. He is no longer a unique character and he is falling into the category as just another boy. The allure of the meat got to him, and he totally forgot who he was and what he stood for because he had no support. His only support was when he followed Jack and did what he did not believe in. This is significant to the novel because it shows the power of loneliness and feeling involved. The book stresses that Ralph is a leader, but they also show him break down numerous times because he is not what everyone wants him to be.
2. Motif-The Conch (pg 181)
In this particular passage, the conch is shattered and destroyed which signifies that the civilization and order of the island is destroyed. Along with the conch, Piggy is also murdered and he seemed to be the only rational one on the island. Now that the conch is destroyed, there is nothing that the boys can do to save themselves. They will naturally self-destruct as the conch did, and soon the whole civilization will be shattered. I think that this passage truely shows the boys at their worst. The conch was a motif that signified the structure and concreteness of the island, and it was the only thing that remained in order. Without it, absolute order would ensue, and the boys would soon destroy themselves. They are too young to realize that they are only doing themselves harm without any organization. As the conch shatters, so does the civilization as a whole.
3. Response to Brian Anderson
When I read Brian's comments I agree that Piggy was the most rational and intelligent boy on the island. He was so because he always kept his morals about him even when everyone was against him .He always stood for what he beleived in and was always trying to create some form of order, using the conch as his own. However, he was not so smart in the sense that he always put himself out there for ridecule and self destruction. He knew he was different from the others and was used to being made fun of at home. If he wanted change then he should have just started new and gone along with what everyone else did. If he was a follower and did what everyone else did, then the boys might not have all survived like they did, but maybe he would still have his life.
Emily Philpott- Nicole Miller
I like how nicole related Jack to the destructive nature of the fire. I never noticed it but it is as if Ralph represented the hope of being rescued and that is why he was so concerned about having a signal fire going at all times. And Jack represents the destruction that a fire could cause and how quickly that destruction can spread. Although Ralph admitted to feeling savage at certain points in the book he always managed to contain himself while Jack's savageness spread.
CHARACTER [piggy]
pg 180
Piggy was a character who did not really change throughout the novel. He was always realistic and civilized. He was also weaker than the other boys which caused him to have a fear of them. Before his death Ralph had Piggy stay out of site so he wouldn't be harmed, but when everything did not go as planned Piggy challenged Jack. He tried to get into Jack's head and try and change his mind. "Which is better- to be a pack of painted Indians or sensible like Ralph is?... Which is better- to have rules and agree or to hunt and kill?" These words had no effect on Jack, and soon after led to Piggy's death.
MOTIF [the conch]
pg 170-171
Throughout the novel the conch is used a symbol of respect and authority. The object itself called the boys to order and gave them a sense of civilization. At least, that is how it seemed. Not long into the novel the value of the conch decreased. Thus causing the value of civilization to decrease. In this passage, Piggy still tries to look for the maturity of the boys by bringing the conch with him to negotiate. The failure of any real communication shows the boys real transformation into their beast-like nature.
Michael M. [the conch]
I completely agree with Michael's statements. The destruction of the conch resulted in the boys to becoming "a savage tribe." The downfall of their civilization is shocking.
CHARACTER [piggy]
pg 180
Piggy was a character who did not really change throughout the novel. He was always realistic and civilized. He was also weaker than the other boys which caused him to have a fear of them. Before his death Ralph had Piggy stay out of site so he wouldn't be harmed, but when everything did not go as planned Piggy challenged Jack. He tried to get into Jack's head and try and change his mind. "Which is better- to be a pack of painted Indians or sensible like Ralph is?... Which is better- to have rules and agree or to hunt and kill?" These words had no effect on Jack, and soon after led to Piggy's death.
MOTIF [the conch]
pg 170-171
Throughout the novel the conch is used a symbol of respect and authority. The object itself called the boys to order and gave them a sense of civilization. At least, that is how it seemed. Not long into the novel the value of the conch decreased. Thus causing the value of civilization to decrease. In this passage, Piggy still tries to look for the maturity of the boys by bringing the conch with him to negotiate. The failure of any real communication shows the boys real transformation into their beast-like nature.
Michael M. [the conch]
I completely agree with Michael's statements. The destruction of the conch resulted in the boys to becoming "a savage tribe." The downfall of their civilization is shocking.
Kaylie McTiernan
Roger
p. 180-181~
Roger has developed throughout the book into a violent character. In the beginning when Roger is introduced he is very secretive and the few times he speaks he is very pessimistic and impatient. In chapter four Roger throws rocks at Henry, but cannot hit him and is imprinted with society’s rules. In chapter eleven Roger has fully developed into a violent character and takes advantage of their crumbling society. In this scene Ralph and Piggy come to get Piggy’s glasses from the other boys and as they are talking Roger throws rocks down at them. Then, with no restraint, Roger pulls a lever and drops a boulder on Piggy. In this scene Roger becomes part of the rock and the violence and brutality that it stands for. He uses his power to crush Piggy and with him the conch. At this point violence overtakes the order the boys tried to establish earlier in the novel. After Piggy is killed the boys begin to hunt Ralph and become complete savages, hunting him like he was a wild pig. Roger seems to accept his new power after the death of Piggy in aiding Jack with this new tribe. In this chapter Roger is clearly changed from a boy with restrained thoughts to an individual that acts on his vicious ideas.
Rocks
p. 193-194~
Rocks have developed in this book to become the violence in society. Roger’s actions in killing Piggy with a rock were the first harsh use of rocks for violence. In chapter twelve the boys decide to hunt Ralph and when they discover where he is hiding they begin rolling large boulders. In this scene they use rocks for fighting and hunting Ralph. The rocks are described as being red and in that way are compared to the blood they spill. The large rocks do damage to the forest and bring destruction from the tribe to the whole island.
Lucy Wakes
"PIGGY"
page 165, "I mean it..." to the bottom
In "The Shell and the Glasses" we find Piggy in the same dependable situation as the beginning of the novel. This passage shows not how Piggy has changed, but instead displays how Piggy becomes the dramatic foil to the other characters in presenting how the others have morphed. Piggy continues to be his civil, thoughtful, logical self. When Ralph suggests that he write a letter, Piggy, in a way that is unique to his character only, sits pensive for a moment. His reply is one thick with logic. There is no envelope, no mailbox, no postman. It is clear that by this point, there is not one other character who would even consider for a moment the idea of writing someone a letter. Where some would consider Piggy ignorant for this reply, it is actually just a prime example of his logical, intellectual being.
"THE CONCH"
page 168
The passage right after the fight between the two "tribes" is phenomenal in depticting the everyone's relationship with and consequently the meaning of the conch. In the brawl, Piggy is expecting Jack and the hunters to take the conch (an example of Piggy's undaunted belief in the conch's authority). Instead, they realize that they have come for Piggy's glasses (to make fire). This is extremely symbolic in that instead of choosing civil authority, the hunters have taken a symbol of raw and viloent power, believing it to be more important. This sets the stage for the hunters' far lean in the primal, animalistic, raw "human nature" direction; Ralph and Piggy's crew have been left with the symbol of civil authority, which seems to mean little to the majority of the boys on the island.
It is most interesting to view all the responses about Ralph. Personally, after finishing the novel and reading others' work, I believe that Ralph has changed the most in his manner. Piggy remained solid and steadfast, Jack had always had an air of "I am better than you and in charge, and if you don't like it I'll hurt you" (which is taken to full extent by the end of the novel), but Ralph swung both ways. As much as he wanted to be calm and civil, there were moments where he found himself wrapped up in the moment, hunting with Jack and most frighteningly, forgetting why it was they were keeping a fire burning. Ralph was a dynamic character and comprable to an average human being: sometimes making the right choices (because it's what you do) and sometimes following a primal instinct and getting caught off track. By looking solely at Ralph and his transformations over the course of the novel, it becomes clear that the author has a clear purpose: to depict human nature in its most uninhibited forms.
Kaylie McTiernan-Hannah Benson
Ralph/ the conch
Hannah brings up many important points in her comments. She notes the changes in Ralph not only as a leader, but as a person. A good point that she brings up that I hadn’t thought of is that the boy’s perception of Ralph is greatly changed throughout the book. In the beginning they don’t doubt his leadership and later notice the flaws in him. There are a lot of expectations that come with being a leader and it is very difficult to live up to these standards with little support from the other boys. She also does a good job describing the conch motif and its significance to the boy’s society.
Leah Palazola
Lucy W
Piggy
I really liked how lucy showed that Piggy did not changed and that he was something that showed how all of the other boys have changed. Piggy is still his thoughtful, logical self which allows the reader to see how much all of the other boys have transformed into animal/beast-like people. You are able to see, even more clearly, how uncivilized the boys have become.
i really agree with what lucy had to say about piggy and how he had remained the same and kept the same attitude the entire time. This proves more about piggy as a character and i thing her pointing this aspect of the book out was very clever and intelligent
abigail lechleiter-roger
Roger is known as the secretive and the kind of guy who stayed to himself in the beginning of the book. In the beginning of the book where Roger throws rocks at a pair of littluns it is clear he misses by several feet the rules of society still with him but at the second half of the book that changes when he no longer feels the burden of society. Most likely the thing that stopped Roger was the fear of punishment but once it was clear that under the leadership of Jack that there would not be any consequences for misbehavior. So Roger sheds all the ties that bind him and becomes the right hand of Jack and the person that most of the kids fear.
abigail lechleiter-rocks
The rocks play a huge part in the destruction of society and an instrument of pain. The one who uses the rocks the most is mostly roger who at first doesn't really do it to hurt but at the end the rocks become an tool of death. It is also shown in the first couple of chapters that when the boys throw a bug rock down a hill it causes a big boom, like a bomb. This clearly foreshadows the later power of the rocks and what kind of harm they can do.
abigail lechleiter-sarah johnson
The way that Sarah said how the island is personified throughout the book and that when the boys push the island pushes back. And in the end hoe the island eventually "sacrifices" itself and that leads to the boys rescued.
Nicole Miller-Michael McGovern
I never realized that Jack asserts his position as chief "after" the conch breaks, nor the fact that the author refers to him as the chief in the following chapters. I think that Michael brings up some valid points.
Brian Hand
I very much enjoyed Mike's analysis of Ralph. However, I don't think Ralph ever truly gives up hope of rescue from the island. Rather, he is instinctively thinking of only escape from the hunters. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the first and most basic of needs is the instinct for survival. This animalistic instinct is noticeable when he is constantly being compared to a boar and even wonders if "a pig would agree." It is only after this need is fulfilled that he can move on to other needs; in this case thoughts of rescue. Once Ralph arrives at the feet of the naval officer, and he feels his life is secure, that he can "(weep) for the end of innocence." Also in that scene, Ralph compares rocks to "a cottage, big as a car." The hunters can hardly remember the names they were called in their civilized life, yet Ralph is still using aspects of his former life for comparison. He even echoes Simon's prophesy of "You'll get back" to himself. Other than that i agree with his statements.
Ben Moore
Jack
p. 177-179 and 201
Since the boys first got on the island Jack has wanted to be leader of the whole group. Jack has a love for authority—as we found out through his obsession with hunting—and when he gains some power he embraces violence and savagery. Again we see Jack’s thirst for more power when he faces off against Ralph in an attempt to completely overthrow him. This persona soon changes at the end when the naval officer comes to rescue them. Now with some glint of civilization, when asked by the officer “who’s boss here?” Jack, “A little boy who wore the remains of an extraordinary black cap on his red hair and who carried the remains of a pair of spectacles at his waist, started forward, then changed his mind and stood still” (201).
Ben Moore
The Conch
p. 181
This is the passage when “the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist” (181). At this moment the symbol, which at one point represented civilization and order, is now completely lost along with a major character. Piggy, who was also crushed with the conch, represented the intelligent and practical side of civilization. He was on of few who had realistic ideas and had an adult-like outlook on situations. With the conch destroyed, it marks the demise of civilized society and the rise of savagery and authority to Jack.
Ben Moore
Brian Hand—Jack
I was pretty impressed with Brian’s knowledge and understanding of the book’s motifs and his in-depth analysis of Jack. He even went so far as to look up the meaning of Jack’s name. I completely agree with his statement about what Jack really craves in hunting is the feeling of power and domination over living creatures. Overall both Brian’s response of Jack and his connection between the Lord of the Flies and the conch are very intuitive.
Kyle Smith
Ralph (pg. 196)
In the final chapter of Lord of the Flies, Ralph really is seen at his lowest point. He has been degraded to beastlike status and is being hunted. And, his companion, the one who kept him on track, Piggy, has been killed. He is in a mad dash for his life and in this particular passage is yearning for the sense of piggy, and the dignity and order of the conch. But most of all, he wishes that the “curtain” in his brain won’t close, making a “simpleton” out of him. This particular passage is important because it demonstrates Ralph’s final state in the run up to his helter skelter escape and ultimate rescue. It is clear form this that Ralph recognizes the superiority of Piggy and it is interesting that Ralph finally understands Piggy’s integral role at this point. This passage gives insight into Golding’s inherent character flaws and shows Ralph, not as the golden-boy leader, but as a scared schoolboy in the middle of absolute savagery. But, one could commend Ralph for being the only person to resist the call of the wild and stay firmly footed in civilization while the others slip into savagery.
Fire (pg. 200)
In the last chapter, Fire comes to a prominent role most notably with the setting fire of the entire island. What I thought was the most iconic symbol of fire in this chapter was the description of the fire as it devoured the shelter, the last remaining connection to society. Fie has been a very good indicator of the control that the two warring sides (society and savagery) have. This particular brand of fire, a savage and uncontrollable one, reminds me particularly of the one that caused the death of the mulberry birthmark boy, another connection to society. However, this fire, serves two purposes, it is release of savage tendencies, but it also serves the purpose of obliterating what remains of the other faction, society. Had this gone on much longer, Ralph would not have escaped his fate and it is probable that despite rescue, the boys would never quite get away from there savage tendencies.
Brian Hand
Brian has demonstrated a mastery of motifs, symbols, characters and plot as multiple other people have stated. I personally enjoyed reading each of his comments because they were laced with tidbits that we had not discussed in class. I’ve always had an interest in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, but it never struck me just how perfect a fit it is to this novel and his use of name entomology seems to have sparked ideas in several other individuals. I also enjoyed his connections made using the descriptions of the conch and the Lord of the Flies, this provided added ammunition to an already well armed argument that Golding was creating contrasts to further the readers understanding of his purpose.
Marc Alves
Ralph
Pg. 156
This passage shows a side of Ralph that we have not yet seen. This passage shows a sacred and confused Ralph that we don't see earlier in the novel. this is the first major point where we can see Ralph giving up instead of inspiring people to move on. This part of the novel gives you a dark and erie feeling yourself as the reader , because you have been counting on Ralph to be strong and supportive throughout the entire novel. This is important because it shows the major turning point where the boys have gone to far, and Ralph's gang has no way of stopping them.
Marc Alves
Pg. 181
The Rock
The rock made a major shift in its meaning from the begining to the end of the novel. When the novel starts we find Roger harmlessly throwing rocks at the littums being careful not to hit them. This is not a big deal and considered to be a playful gesture. Howveer the rocks throughout the novel continue to escalate their violence to the point where one is used to murder Piggy. This change symbolizes the boys intentions throughout the book. At the begining nobody would have ever thought of taking somebody else's life. As the novel dgoes on and the boys become more savage and beast-like their boundaries change and they kill both Simon and Piggy.
Marc Alves
Response to - Ben Moore
I agree with what Ben said about the conch. I think that it was closly related with Piggy, and it was not surpise they were destroyed at the same time. Both Piggy and the conch represented order,and sensability.
Jay Destino
Simon
p145-147
This is a very important part of the novel, because it is the first time that someone on the island figures out that truth about the man crashing with the parachute. Simon is very thoughtful with his philosophies about the island. The scene of him realizing the truth and then trying to help the other boys and instead being killed clearly displayed how the boys on the island had lost all signs of civilization. This scene is a turning point where the boys have all resorted to murder and not feeling sympathy. Simon is not everyone’s favorite character for no reason, he doesn’t give in to the temptation of wild behavior and he is helpful if listened to about problems which need solving. It was slight irony for the reader when he came to bring the kids god news which would save them from turning against each other and then the kids turned against him, and killed him.
conch
p181
The conch was destroyed by a rock that was intended for Piggy. Piggy, holding the conch, fell dead while the conch crushed into pieces. " The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist." This quote here clearly shows how the conch was destroyed but the conch being crushed wasn’t as big as a deal as one might think. The conch lost its meaning earlier before it was destroyed because the boys rebelled against each other and mainly Ralph. The meaning of the conch fell, then the shell itself was destroyed, and since the conch gave Ralph his power, the rebel against Ralph was to follow.
I agree with Leah when she says Ralph realizes he is beginning to change in the rest of the boys when he feels bad for killing Simon even though it was a misunderstanding. Good observation of how Ralph catches himself going beyond what he believes is right.
Ralph:
(150-151)
Over the course of "Lord of the Flies", Ralph has remained the 'leader' of the boys, but there is something different about him. In chapter nine, "A View in a Death", Ralph's role as leader of the group is threatened, and he is angered by this. Jack is fed up with the group, and wants to form his own, separate, group, which comes as a surprise to Ralph. Ralph quickly tries to nullify Jack's offer, and Jack continues to push the issue. "'I gave you food,' said Jack, 'and my hunters will protect you from the beast. Who will join my tribe?' 'I'm chief,' said Ralph, 'because you chose me.'...'I said you were hunters. That was your job.' Jack ignored him again. 'Who'll join my tribe and have fun?'...'I'm chief,' Ralph said tremulously. 'And what about the fire? And I've got the conch-' 'You haven't got it with you,' said Jack, sneering. 'You left it behind. See, clever? And the conch doesn't count at this end of the island--'...'I'll blow the conch,' said Ralph breathlessly, 'and call an assembly.'...'Going to be a storm,' said Ralph, 'and you'll ahve rain like when we dropped here. Who's clever now? Where are your shelters? What are you going to do about that?'" (150-151)Ralph is definitely feeling the stress of being on the island for all this time, as are the other remaining boys. Having spent so much time together on the island, and the fact that the boys are becoming more wild and rambunctious, Ralph, among others, is feeling the strain that their way of life is putting on them. In the beginning, Ralph was a strong leader, divvying up jobs to help provide the necessary things to keep them alive and moderately healthy.
Light/Darkness
(153)
The reference to light and darkness occurs constantly throughout the novel. It seems that the worst actions of the boys occur at night, including the death of Simon. "Toward midnight the rain ceased and the clouds drifted away, so that the sky was scattered once more with the incredible lamps of stars. Then the breeze died too and there was no noise save the drip and trickle of water that ran out of clefts and spilled down, leaf by leaf, to the brown earth of the island. The air was cool, moist, and clear; and presently even the sound of the water was still. The beast lay huddled on the pale beach and the stains spread, inch by inch." (153) The darkness is not only used in the book in the literal sense, but it describes the dark nature of the humans, and the beast. The dark nature of the beast in the boys led to two of them killing Simon, without any reason.
Allie Lees
Ralph p.199
In the last paragraph on this page it says, "Ralph screamed, a scream of fright and anger and desperation. His legs straightened, the screams became continuous and foaming. He shot forward, burst the thicket, was in the open, screaming, snarling, bloody. He swung the stake and the savage tumbled over..." In the first half of the novel, Ralph is one of the characters most in control of his animalistic side. In this passage he is being hunted like an animal. Because he is being hunted in such a way, he let's go of all logical thinking and becomes as close to an animal as humanly possible. In the passage on 199,he is snarling just like a wild animal that is being attacked. He is also just as desperate and will even kill if he must to protect himself as seen by how he stabs the "savage" with a stick without even thinking.
Allie Lees
Sticks-p.190
In the beginning of the book, sticks are just toys, child's play. But on this page, Sam and Eric tell Ralph that "Roger sharpened a stick at both ends." Ralph does not immediately understand this but later he realizes that Roger and Jack intend to kill him and display his head the way they did with the sows. This "stick sharpened at both ends" comes to represent the animalistic, terrifying, inhumane side of humans that can emerge when self control is thrown to the winds.
Allie Lees
Nicole Miller-Ralph
I think that Nicole gave an excellent example of how much Ralph has changed in LOTF. I also thought it was important that she illustrated how Ralph was conscious of what he did to Simon and that Ralph knew that he wasn't frightened but that a dark side of him had come out.
Emily Castro
Piggy
pg.156-158
This passage shows that Piggy feels little remorse about Simon's death, even though both he and Ralph took part in killing him. Piggy says " We was scared!" and "It was an accident.", and believes that their fear and confusion is justification enough for the fact that they took part in Simon's murder.This passage shows that even Piggy is unable to overcome human instinct. Piggy is not like Jack in that he is inherently violent and allows his primal instincts to take over, but he is self seeking. As long as he can blame some other force for his action, his conscience is clear. Throughout the novel, Piggy is symbolic of civilization, thus, by portraying Piggy and selfish and self-seeking,Golding suggests that society and civilization as a whole are also inherently selfish.
Alicia Unis
Pg. 166-167
Ch. 10
Piggy
In this passage, a group of other boys following Jack have raided the Ralph’s group in search of the glasses. Piggy thinks they have come for the shell, but this shows a lot about his character in the novel. As I mentioned before Piggy is himself somewhat a symbol of civilization, and tries desperately to make the other boys see reason and reestablish civilization on the island. The conch is a symbol of civilization, as the first instrument used to bring the other boys to order and assemble. Piggy holds tightly to this shell in order to maintain as much order on the island as possible. When Piggy thinks the boys were trying to steal the shell, this shows his own ignorance to the instincts of savagery they ultimately adhere to. This shows that even the bearer of knowledge on the island is ignorant of their own nature.
Fire
Pg. 197-198
In the last pages of the novel, Jack and his followers are hunting Ralph and set the forest ablaze in order to smoke him out of his hiding place. Fire was a reoccurring motif in the novel used as a symbol of various aspects of the novel, like hope, civilization and destruction. In the irony of the end, the fire symbolizes all of these themes. When fire is used destructively and savagery, in order to cause harm to Ralph, it ultimately saves them from the island, which Ralph had been saying throughout the whole book. The fire ultimately saves them, but when it was used in a destructive and violent manner. The fire that Ralph believes will save him all along, almost killed him, but gave him hope and safety in the end. Ralph was deceived to think that the fire he loyally defends could betray him, when controlled by humans that are all too often ignorant of their savage nature and the need for civilization.
Alicia Unis- Sarah Johnson
Roger
I agree with Sarah on her views of Roger. I think she did an amazing job on explaining the development of Roger throughout the novel into the uncontrollable savage he becomes in the end of the novel. I think she summarized his character well, most especially his occupation of Jack's right hand man and "the brawn of the law".
Emily Castro
Fire
pg 194-202 (end of chapter 12)
At the beginning of the novel, fire was a signal of hope to almost all of the boys. Fire was the source of light in the darkness, and the only hope that the boys would be rescued. As the novel progresses, the fire is representative of the level or order and civility amongst the boys. If the fire is strong and maintained, the boy are unified, however if the fire is either small and weak or roaring out of control and no one is paying attention to it, the boys have lost a sense or order and sanity, and have given in to their primal instincts. At the end of the novel, Jack and the rest of the boys start a fire that sets the entire island ablaze. This corresponds the boys behavior because at the end of the novel the boys are completely out of control and have succumb to their animalistic instincts. The boys are hunting Ralph so when they find him they can kill him. At this point, the boys have lost any sense of order and have totally and completely given in to human nature and are allowing their inherent violence to control them. Thus, when the fire is raging and destructing everything in its path, the boys are doing the exact same thing. This motif shows that humans can only control themselves for so long, and eventually, when pushed to such limits as the boys were, primal instincts take over.
Emily Castro
Brian Hand - Jack
Once again Brian has gone above and beyond and has wowed me with his profound understanding of the novel. Going so far as to find the etymology of a characters name is something that I would never have though to do. Brian has discovered yet another way in which Golding weaves together every aspect of the novel as tightly as possible. This observation has brought me to appreciate William Golding's as a writer even more so than I did before. It has also provoked me to look into the names of the other characters, and extract from their meanings what I can relate to the novel, and use those connections deepen my understanding of the overall meaning of the story. Way to go Brian, you are an inspiration to all of us....
In chapter 10, The Shell and the Glasses, Ralph continues to change for the worst. For example, in chapter 8, he admits that he sometimes loses interest in keeping the fire going, which scares everyone around him, even himself. Chapter 10 is where Ralph is almost completely transformed into a savage instead of the leader he used to be earlier in the novel. The chapter begins with Ralph and Piggy talking about the previous night involving Simon's death. Piggy insists that the entire incident was just a mistake, but Ralph is positive that it was an act of murder. Murder is usually a very grave matter, but Ralph just begins to laugh hysterically. He also laughs when Piggy tries to reassure him that he is the leader and needs to come up with a plan. All in all, Ralph has finally succumbed to the island's torturous ways.
"Piggy nodded at the conch. 'You could-' 'Call an assembly?' Ralph laughed sharply as he said the word and Piggy frowned. 'You're still chief.' Ralph laughed again. 'You are. Over us.' 'I got the conch.' 'Ralph! Stop laughing like that. Look, there ain't no need, Ralph! What's the others going to think?'"
Ali Orlando-Ralph
Page 149
It is apparent that throughout this passage is Ralph’s final transformation as a person and a character in the novel Lord of the Flies. With no hesitation or encouragement needed, Ralph took place as a leader in the beginning of the novel. With confidence in his opinions and decisions, and a flexible attitude towards the others, he maintained a trail of true followers for some time. However, gradually, as his so called “faithful” friends were falling to Jack day by day, Ralph was experiencing an internal hopelessness, and feelings of failure. His individuality is dismissed when he eventually is wooed into hunting. I felt that this small decision and desire to hunt at all finally invited the evil, the lord of the flies, to surface within him, as if to say “I knew I’d have my fun with you, like I knew I would with Simon.” For the very first time, Ralph went against everything he believed in. And this first time, was one time too many. I felt as though this moment was important because once again, human nature, and one of the most natural human emotions, isolation, indirectly forced Ralph to take part in something he never would. Perhaps Golding is proving here that loneliness alone is one of the saddest, darkest, most affecting emotions in a human being, and that it alone will cause you to act in ways you never imagined possible.
2. Ali -Conch
Page 181
In this passage, as Piggy falls to his death, the conch is smashed and shattered to pieces along with him. This passion suggests how the order among the island is completely diminished, along with the only character that’s rationality and balance, existed on the island. When the conch is ruined, the civilization takes its final fall. This passage is both significant and foreshadowing. When the conch, representing the structure of the island, is destroyed, this allows the reader to predict that any hope for tranquility or normalness on the island is gone forever and that boys outcomes with be darker than imaginable.
3. Ali – Nicole – The Fire
I was impressed with Nicole’s opinion and understanding about the fire. For some reason the fire has been an eye-catching, or should I say ear-catching motif in the book to me. I find that the meaning behind it, the destruction and even dangerous beauty it can convey holds the darkest of secrets and meanings. The part where Nicole states the fire “is an all consuming presence that destroys the island” just like the boys are “has an all consuming animalistic nature that destroys civility on the island”. This connection is not known to me, but I think reading from this perspective made me realize that we are fire. We humans. As gentle as we can be, is as rough as we can be. As light as we can be, is as dark as we can be. It’s a matter of testing the waters to define what type of person you are, and which way your heart swings. In Lord of the Flies, to say these boys “tested the waters” is an understatement. They have not experienced evil, but have come face to face with it, and some can no longer distinguish the difference between boy and beast.
Piggy-
As Lord of the Flies draws to a close, the characters in the novel all seem to reach their own personal breaking points. In the case of Piggy it is in both a figurative, and literal sense, no pun intended. Piggy’s death in the chapter aptly named “Castle Rock” is Golding’s way of severing the boys’ last ties to the civilized world. Piggy may have been seen as a sort of “stick in the mud” to the other boys’ and they may have laughed and mocked him, but as a group, they needed the dynamic of Piggy in order to bring in a system of checks and balances that exist in civil society. The fact that Piggy’s death is described clearly (unlike that of Simon) so that we the reader understand that Piggy has died, is immensely significant. Golding takes the time to specifically note that Piggy’s head was smashed by the rock, something that should not go unnoticed. Piggy’s character was solely motivated by his mind; he valued his intellect and his morals above the primal needs of his body like the other children. The fact that his death blow was dealt to his head signifies not only Piggy’s literal death, but the death of intellect also.
The Shell-
With the death of Piggy also goes the death of the shell. Throughout the book the shell was the first and last symbol of rank and order between the boys on the scar. The conch smashing is a tumultuous picture painted by Golding to show the last bit of order dissolving, and paving the way for the final battles between the Hunters and Ralph. After the smashing of the conch Jack was able to usurp the title of Chief from Ralph and took control over the island, making sure to isolate Ralph, as I think, a part of Jack still feared that Ralph could take back his hold over the other boys with his rationality. At this point though, Ralph had already given up hope, and had already resigned himself to becoming Jack’s prey.
Response to Lucy W.
In Lucy’s analysis of the conch, she brings up an important detail of the events preceeding it’s demise. She notes that Piggy expects the hunters to come and take the conch as a way to proclaim themselves as leaders in his civilized mind. Instead they want the glasses, in order to create fire. This incident shows the absoluteness of Piggy’s devotion to society, and also the Hunters blatant disregard for it.
Mercedes Lane
Ralph
Page 187-189
This passage describes Ralph at one of his lowest points. He has lost all of his former authority. He once had confidence in his power over the boys, but gradually as the story continues, his power dwindles. All of his friends are gone. Not only did his closest friends, Piggy and Simon die, his followers have all deserted him to join Jack’s terrifying tribe. In this passage, Ralph discovers that even his last remaining companions have left. Sam and Eric have been tortured and forced to join Jack’s tribe as well. Now, Ralph is left completely alone and is crawling about the island, just like the beast that has ruined them all. He cannot comprehend what has happened. He realizes that his authority has completely vanished, but is confused as to why. All Ralph wanted all along was for the boys to be rescued, but their plans never seemed to be eye to eye.
The Fire
195-198
Once a sign of hope and life, the fire is described as the complete opposite in this passage. Ralph’s companions have completely deserted him and he is left alone on the island, and is against Jack’s tribe. The fire, which was once used in an attempt to signal the boys’ need to be rescued, is used in an attempt to capture Ralph throughout these select pages. Jack and his followers know Ralph is hiding in the thicket and they set the forest on fire in order to “smoke him out”. The fire, originally a sign of hope, transformed into a sign of violence on the island, and yet again becomes a sign of hope as it is the reason that the naval officer discovers them.
Response to Alyssa D.
The Shell
Alyssa’s analysis of the shell brings up important points about it’s purpose in the novel that I had not previously considered. Her idea that the destruction of the conch represents the order of the tribe ceasing to exist is very insightful. She uses that thought to break off and describe that once the conch was destroyed, Jack is able to take over the island, overturning Ralph’s authority. These ideas give way to more important discussions concerning the conch’s role in the novel.
Analise Sanfilippo pg 149
"At this moment the boys that were cooking at the fire suddenly hauled off a greakt chunk of meat and ran with it toward the grass. they bumped piggu ,whowas burnt, and yelled and danced. Immediatly, Ralph and the croud of boys were united and relieved by a storm of laugter. Piggy once more was the center of social derision so that everony felt cheerful and normal
pg 149
piggy gives this passage significance because he is one again the concious knowlegdable one and he is also that one that is more easily made fun of. Piggy is the character that helps keep the island on the upbeat side
pg 181
the conch shell is the one thing in the book that gives the boys a form of discipline and order. one piggy is killed by the boulder along with the conch shell everything on this island goes upside down.
pg 181
the conch shells significance is to help keep the island in order. without parents the conch shell worked as and odler person to set discipline
Angelo Ingaharro-Ralph(200-201)
This part of the book is at the end when the naval officer comes. Jack's tribe has smoked Ralph out of his hinding spot and are chaseing him through the jungle. Ralph, who is at this point given up on being saved, is just trying to survive for as long as possible. He makes it to the beack where he falls to the ground. as Jack's tribe races toward him, Ralph notices someone is in front of him and he looks up to find a naval officer standing there. Instead of being happy and excited for being rescued from the island, as well as jack, Ralph feels depressed and unhappy with hit new found knowledge of the world. He realizes now that everyone is filled with evil and it makes him unwilling to return to his old life with this knowledge.
Angelo Ingaharro-Conch(180-181)
At this part of the book, Roger has just pushed the rock at Ralph and Piggy. The boulder comes crashing down the hillside and hits Piggy, who is holding the conch. The conch instantly bursts into pieces, symbolizing the end to all thing's civilized. prior to this, Ralph and the few followers he has go to Jack's tribe and try to make him see order and reason. Jack however won't have anything to do with it, causing a fight to break out between Ralph and Jack. eventually, the rest of Jack's tribe joins in on the yelling, getting ready to charge. Ralph stands ready to fight when he hears the rock that Roger has just pushed start to fall toward him and piggy. Ralph gets out of the way in time but the conch, along with the charactor that most represents the same symbol, piggy, are destroyed.
Angelo Ingaharro-Leah Palazola
Ralph
i agree with what leah has said. the boys, even Ralph and Piggy have fallen into the savage mindset with all the dancing and chanting. Piggy wants so bad to believe it was by accident and that he is still an innocent person. Ralph however realizes the crime he has comited and feels bad for Simons death.
Michael Hodgkins
Jack
pgs. 167, 188
In chapter ten Jack and his tribe raid the huts, stealing Piggy’s glasses. He has removed the intellegence, and taken the fire to his side of the island. Now he has the power. The island is becoming more Jack’s and less Ralph’s. He is basically the new leader. Maybe not “officially” but by the way things look it is clear. Jack has complete control over his tribe, he makes all the decisions. Jack is no longer just the hunter, he is the chief of his tribe.
Michael Hodgkins
The Beast
pgs.185,193
The Beast has become the Lord of the Flies. It in a way becomes the symbol of Jack’s power, a dark version of the conch shell. Jack, being the one who planted the pigs head, is also the beast he is the monster of the island now. Not only does everyone participate in the murder of Simon but in the end, everyone is set to kill Ralph, thus proving Simon’s theory. The beast is inside everyone.
Michael Hodgkins- Nicole Miller
Nicole confirms my idea of the beast in the end being inside everyone. The beast represents the savageness and darkness inside of everyone. As she states, Piggy and Ralph "can be overcome by their animalistic side." The beast's territory.
Courtland Kelly
E Block
Ralph and Piggy
Pg. 156-158
This passage, which contains the conversation between Ralph and Piggy about the “dance” that killed Simon, I find to be the most significant and blatant allegorical passage expressing Golding’s opinion and fears about human nature. Piggy, who is an upstanding representative of the adult world, behaves as most adults would when faced with the knowledge that their inner, beastly nature does in fact exist: he denies it. By recognizing that a violent animal exists within all of us, Piggy would have to accept the flaws of mankind which his beloved society has kept hidden with strategic rules and laws that successfully keep most inner beasts in check. Next to Piggy’s unwavering faith in the infallibility of man, Ralph’s simple, logical insight into true human nature seems profound. Golding’s entire purpose can be gleaned from this conversation.
Stains/Scars
Although this wasn’t one of the motifs that Mr. Cook initially assigned, I found stains and scars to be significant throughout LOTF. The first mention of a scar is right in chapter one at the site of the presumed plane crash. Golding’s use of the word “scar” to describe the arrival of the boys demonstrates the author’s opinion that the boys’ arrival on the island is a scar on the island, and is not an exciting vacation from grownups as they originally think. So in this particular case, the island is stained, and by the end of the novel is completely burned down. The next mention of the motif is on page 35, in the boy with the “mulberry-colored birthmark.” The birthmark is like a stain, and we all know the fate of the physically weak yet relatively outspoken Mulberry Birthmark boy. Another character who is stained, but more figuratively, is Piggy. Piggy has asthma, which makes him weak and unable to collect wood with the other boys. This “stain” is made more obvious by Ralph’s misinterpretation of “asthma” into “ass-mar.” This seemingly accidental transformation is actually very significant because it creates two words that help identify Piggy. “Ass” can be loosely interpreted as “fool” which seems to correspond with Piggy’s placement on the anthropological diagram as the clown. The more important word, of course, is “mar” which is a verb that means ruin, and in effect scar, stain, etc. Piggy’s asthma is a stain on him and, big surprise; he is killed by unchecked actions of inner human nature. The stain motif is also prevalent in Simon, who is scarred by his weakness and susceptibility to fainting, as well as after his death when his blood stains the sand (153). Here yet another stained characters becomes victim to man’s inner nature and ends up dead.
Nicole Miller- Fire
I thought that Nicole’s connection between the fire and the boys as having a similar presence on the island was really good. I had not noticed this but it now seems obvious that the civil and beastly aspects of the fire correspond to similar civil and beastly aspects of humans.
ps. I'm sorry for posting this late but i really thought that i had posted it this morning. sorry!
Lucy Morgan - Piggy
p.147, p.180
Throughout the novel Piggy serves the purpose of being the boy who takes the beatings. His fellow companions on the island relieve stress and are entertained by teasing Piggy, and he always accepts it...he remains logical, is eager to please, and his hair never grows. However, on p.147 Golding illudes to the control that Piggy is beginning to try to grasp. "Ralph squirted again and missed. He laughed at Piggy, expecting him to retire meekly as usual and in pained silence. Instead Piggy beat the water with his hands. 'Stop it!' he shouted 'D'you hear?'" (in reference to Ralph splashing water on Pigg's glasses). This is the first time Piggy reacts in a way that Ralph doesn't expect. Piggy is beginning to assert himself. On p.180 Piggy makes his one and only big stand. He tries to reason with Jack, "'Which is better-to be a pack of painted Indians like you are, or to be sensible like Ralph?'...'Which is better-to have rules and agree, or to hunt and kill?'...'Which is better, law and rescue, or hunting and breaking things up?'". Of course Piggy is overlooked as usual, and his evolution as a character ironically results in his death.
Lucy Morgan -Pink
p.29, p.181
The color pink is a recurring theme in Lord of the Flies that gives the reader mixed emotions each time it is brought up. At the beginning of the story pink is appealing. It's comforting and exciting. On p.29 Ralph, Jack, and Simon look across the horizon with smiels on their faces at the island that is now at their disposal. "...On either side rocks, cliffs, treetops, and a steep slope: forward there, the length of the boat, a tamer descent, tree-clad, with hints of pink: and then the jungly flat of the island, dense green, but drawn at the end to a pink tail. There, where the island petered out in water, was another island; a rock, almost detached, standing like a fort, facing them across the green with one bold, pink bastion." This vivid description of pinkness is quite a contrast to the role pink plays towards the end of the book, when Piggy is killed (p.181). "His head opened and stuff came out and turned red....Then the sea breathed again in a long, slow sigh, the water boiled white and pink over the rock; and when it went, sucking back again, the boyd of Piggy was gone." As the boys' orderliness and senses turn evil, the color pink turns evil too...from the color of warmth to the color of spilled flesh.
Lucy Morgan-Nicole-Ralph-Pink
Nicole writes that "...under the polished exterior civilized humans there lurks an animal like creature who lives on impulse and desire." Although she was commenting on Ralph's character, her statement reminded me of the pink motif I've been writing about. Even from the beginning of the book, when the boys look out excitedly across the island, pink represents impulse and desire. The boys have the impulse to explore and the desire to conquer the island as their own. Impulse and desire stay closly linked to the color pink until the end of the story, when Piggy is killed as a result of the instinct (or impulse) to murder, and the desire for control.
Marc Alves
Pg. 177
Jack
This is the frst time we see Jack with the true intensions to kill. In all the other parts of the book he never directly tries to kill somebody. when he killed Simon he claimed that he thought it was the beast. This shows a major change in the mindset for both Jack and Ralph. Jack is going to do whatever he can to kill, and Ralph must do whatever he can to stay alive.
Pg 180 - 181
The Rock
The rock motif changes drastically in this part of the book. The first time we see Roger using the rock is at the begining of the book, when he is throwing them at the littlums and being careful not to hit them. At this part of the book Roger actually uses a rock to kill Piggy. This not only changes the signifigance of the rock but also what we think of Roger. Thus making it a major turing point in the novel.
I agree with what Brian said about Piggy and his glasses. Both of these ended up being destroyed in the end of the book, when they were two of the most useful and sensable things at the begining.
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