Etiket: Analysis

LORD OF THE FLIES SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS CHAPTER 2: FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN

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LORD OF THE FLIES SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS

CHAPTER 2: FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN

Ralph, Jack and Simon return from exploring. Ralph blows the conch shell to call a meeting. He explains to the other boys that they are on an uninhabited island and describes it full of fruits. Jack interrupts and says there are pigs on the island. So he declares an army of hunters is required for hunting pigs.

Ralph announces to establish some rules: First, no one can speak in the meeting if he is not holding the conch shell. Also no one except Ralph can interrupt the boy who holds the conch. Thus conch gains another value in this chapter and becomes a symbol of democratic freedom and equality because of connection with rules in modern world. Jack says there will be punishment for the ones who break the rules. He likes the idea of rules because he thinks it is a way for punishment. Thus we learn his tendency toward violence.  Actually Jack is one of the boys who know that without rules they will be just savages. However, he is also the first boy who breaks the rules. He interrupts Piggy while he was talking.

The boys also speak about how it is a good island and how much they fun it will be. They believe that their life will be like island adventure novels. At this moment a small six-year old boy with a large mulberry-colored birthmark on his face wants to talk. He claims that the previous night he saw a snake-like beast in the woods and asks what they will do about it. Hearing that the little ones fall into an anxious silence. Ralph tries to assure everyone that there is no beastie and the boy must have dreamt it in his nightmare. And Jack says if a beast exists, his hunters will kill it. Although some signs of doubt of little ones, the boys seem largely reassured after Ralph and Jack convince them.  But in time this fear sets in among nearly all the boys.

Second chapter is important firstly because the manifestation of “the beast.” From this moment trouble begins and the beast is the main reason for behaviors of children.  Beast symbolizes the evil side in human nature. Also it is a symbol of the imaginary enemies of societies whose politicians create to gain support from his people.  Jack uses this beast idea and the fear among children for ensuring his leadership. When the little boy talks about the beastie, he claims that if there is such a creature, he and his hunters will kill it. Thus, he tries to prove that he has power to struggle with everything.

Ralph is confident that they will be rescued soon and suggests build a signal fire on the mountain to attract the attention of passing ships. Immediately the boys rush off to the mountaintop and collect a huge pile of wood to start a fire.  When the boys run, Piggy says they are like “a crowd of kids.” This comment is ironic and shows how Piggy is mature and set apart from the group.

 

At that moment they realize that they don’t have anything to light the fire. Jack grabs the Piggy’s glasses without asking permission and Ralph starts the fire by concentrating the rays of the sun through it. After the fire starts, Ralph hands back its glasses to Piggy. Piggy can’t see anything without his glasses, so he is terrified at this moment. He speaks about their immaturity and tells that they should be more responsible and Jack begins arguing with him. Jack also offers his hunters will keep the fire always burning so it will never go out.

Fire is important throughout the story and the main reason of conflicts between Jack and Ralph. Also Golding uses fire as a sample for human development. Like the historical facts of early human society the boys’ first achievement is building a fire.

Another symbol in this chapter is the Piggy’s glasses. It is the symbol of technology and humanity’s ability to harness nature.

Meanwhile the fire burns out of control and spreads to other parts of the island burning down everything in its path. Piggy says they should act sensibly. He says the shelters are more important and reminds that they still don’t know how many kids there are. Also discovers the boy with birthmark who worried about the “beastie” is missing and asks to other boys. Nobody knows. The boy is never seen again throughout the story. So we know that he has probably been burned to death. The first death occurs in this chapter. The boy with birthmark was killed by the fire so through the lack of responsibility. His death foreshadows later tragedies.

LORD OF THE FLIES SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS CHAPTER ONE: THE SOUND OF THE SHELL

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9.SAHNE

LORD OF THE FLIES SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS

CHAPTER ONE: THE SOUND OF THE SHELL

Lord of the Flies is the first and most acclaimed book of William Golding. It is a tragic parody of children’s adventure tales like “Coral Island.” Even Golding borrowed Coral Island’s two main character’s names, Ralph and Jack, for his book. But unlike the optimistic air in Coral Island, Golding focuses on the evil nature that underlies even the most civilized human beings and examines man’s internal struggle between good and evil. Since its publication in nineteen fifty four, the novel has been widely regarded as a classic.

Lord of the flies is about a group of English schoolboys stranded on an island. During a nuclear war, a plane carrying a group of boys is shot down and crashes into an uninhabited tropical island. Only survivors after the crash are the boys ages six to twelve. When it reveals they are alone without adults, the boys realize that they have to fend for and govern themselves. They begin to their new life full of excitement and try to form a culture similar to the one they had before. But without adult supervision and constraints of society the order they tried to create gradually breaks down. Eventually the boys turn against one another in the face of an imagined beast.

The first chapter “The Sound of the Shell” begins with the description of a twelve-year-old boy with fair hair who explores the jungle. While he is trying to climb out, he comes across another child around his age, a fat boy wearing glasses. We learn, through their conversation, that they were on a plane that evacuate the schoolboys from a war zone. But the plane was shot down and landed on this island.  All the adults in the plane were died. Also it reveals that there is a nuclear war in the world.   

Fair haired boy says his name: Ralph. But Ralph doesn’t ask the other boys’ name.  The fat boy confesses that he has been called Piggy at school but begs Ralph not to tell this nickname to anyone. But Ralph begins to call him Piggy anyway. Piggy never gets a chance to tell his real name throughout the book.

The two boys talk about to determine what to do next. Ralph doesn’t complain about the situation they are in. Living alone with no adults around is exciting for him. His father is a commander in the navy; so he is confident that they will be rescued soon. But Piggy is aware of how bad situation they are in. Also he says probably no one knows where they are. Because he heard that an atom bomb exploded and maybe all the adults were killed.

They together make their way through the jungle onto the beach and a lagoon. As they play around, they recognize a large conch shell in the water there. Piggy identifies it as a valuable object and Ralph takes it out from the water using a broken palm sapling.

Piggy suggests that using the shell as a horn they can call any other survivors who might be around. He can’t do it yourself because of his asthma but instructs Ralph about how to blow it. After a few failed attempts, Ralphs sounds the conch successfully like a trumpet. Soon other boys between ages 6 and 12 begin to come from the jungle onto the beach and congregate around Ralph and Piggy.

Lastly a group of boys, all dressed in black robes with crosses and caps, come in two parallel lines. They have a very impressive but intimidating appearance and led by a boy named Jack Merridew. We learn that they are the choir group and Jack is their leader. Jack asks where the man with the trumpet is. Ralph explains there is no man and it was just him using the shell.

When the boys realize that they are no adults around, they decide to choose a chief to decide things. Jack says he is the head boy at the school and leader of the choir, so he should be the chief.  But another boy suggests that they should vote for the chief. There are only two obvious contenders: Jack and Ralph. Even though Jack has natural leadership qualities, all the boys except the choir members vote for Ralph. Because he is the boy who blows the conch which has a strong impression on the others. This democratic election shows that initially they still has some rules similar to the civilized world. Jack is disappointed after the election. So, Ralph offers him to remain in charge of the choir boys who will become hunters. Jack agrees.

Ralph’s first decision as chief is set off an expedition to determine whether or not they are really on an island. He choses Jack and Simon to come with him to explore. By this survey a friendship develops between them. Three boys are included in group by Golding purposely. Because Ralph represents civilization, Jack represents savagery and Simon represents pure goodness. In this way writer wanted to show all different groups can get along with in civilized world.

Three boys climb the mountain through the undergrowth and creepers. They also stop to fun and roll a huge rock down the slope. As we mentioned before “Lord of the Flies” is about the evil nature of human beings.  We all have a conception of human identity as the master and possessor of nature. In the book this concept reveals firstly when Ralph, Jack and Simon push a rock and delight as it crashes down. This is the beginning of the need to destroy. This seemingly innocent act will culminate with the killing of Piggy and burning of the island completely later in the book.

When finally reach the summit they confirm that it is indeed an uninhabited island. Then they decide to find food and continue to explore the island. On their way back, the boys find a piglet trapped in the vines. Jack draws his knife to kill it. However, he hesitates so piglet frees itself and escapes. Because Jack, who will be the one of the most savage boys in the island, is still under the pressure of civilized world. And this pressure doesn’t let him spill blood. But from this moment his savage desires awake and he vows that next time he will show no mercy.

The first chapter also concentrates on character personalities. Ralph is a quite handsome and strong boy. Golding describes him as “beautiful”. In contrast Piggy is overweight and the only boy in the group who wears glasses. He is the subject of ridicule in his school. He has asthma, doesn’t know how to swim. Ralph is brave and has self-confidence. On the contrary Piggy is wimpy. He is singled out by the other boys after a short time they met. After calling “Fatty” by Jack, Ralph interrupts and reveals his nickname “Piggy”. He is made fun of even by the little ones. No one likes him throughout the story.

In this chapter Golding also gives some clues about boys’ psychological states and intelligences. When it reveals that there are no adults survived, Ralph likes the idea of living without adult supervision. He is ignorant of facts. But Piggy, who has rational intelligence, is not pleased and aware of without adults, life will be hard for them.

Jack Merridew is the only boy who insists on use his last name. He thinks Jack is a kid’s name and he is not a kid. The group that led by him is more organized than the first group of children. Also everyone in his group takes orders from him. It shows that he is a natural leader and has the ability to keep the others in line and order. However, the boys choose Ralph as their leader and this decision brings a disappointment for Jack. But he never gives up his passion for govern to others. He also believes that they will definitely be rescued. These thought will contribute his behaviors later in the book. Becoming leader of the hunters reveals his desire to kill. Also he is an abrupt and aggressive boy and symbolizes savage side of humanity.

Another important character in this chapter is “Simon”. His name first appears as the “fainted boy in the choir”. We learn in this chapter he is a mild-tempered boy. But further psychological states will appear in following chapters.