NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
... at they are definitely on an uninhabited island, but there is an abundance of fruit and other things to eat. He explains that since there are no grown-ups, they will have to look after themselves. He assures them that if they remain calm, they can survive until they are rescued. Jack joins in by mentioning the pig, and Ralph adds that they need hunters to get meat.
Ralph declares that they need to have some rules, and Jack agrees excitedly. The first rule relates yo the conch. It is identified as the sign of authority, and only the one holding it is allowed to speak. Piggy tries to make everyone realize the gravity of their situation, but no one seems prepared to be serious about being stranded on the beautiful island paradise. Their attention is diverted by a shy young boy who mentions a snake-thing, a "beastie" he has seen in the woods. Ralph and the older boys try to reassure him and explain he has probably had a nightmare.
Many of the boys, however, start feeling uneasy. The topic of their being rescued comes up again. The boys decide to build a fire signal on the top of the mountain to attract the attention of some passing ship or airplane. In sudden excitement at the idea, all the boys run up the hill leaving only Ralph and Piggy on the beach. Piggy is quite disgusted with their childish behavior.
While Ralph rushes after the others, Piggy follows slowly. On the mountaintop, the children enthusiastically collect dry and rotten wood. Once the pile is ready, they realize they have no matches to light the fire. Jack suggests using Piggy's glasses and rudely snatches them off his face. By focusing the sunlight through the thick lenses, he lights the fire.
The rotten wood turns into a temporary inferno that is fanned by the wind; soon the whole mountaintop is ablaze. Piggy once again bemoans the senseless haste of the boys; they refuse to listen and mock him. After the fire has died down, the boys hold a meeting on the mountaintop, and it is decided that Jack's hunters will be responsible for keeping the fire burning. Piggy points out that the little boy with the mulberry mark on his face, the one who previously mentioned the "beastie", is missing. The boys are filled with fear and shame that he may perhaps have died in the fire.
Notes At the start of the second chapter, an atmosphere of freedom and merriment continues, but the rational Ralph sees the need of establishing a sense of order amongst the boys. He states that there needs to be some rules, a fact that excites authoritarian Jack. He has visions of a police state where he can punish those who break the rules. The other boys are much more interested in adventure than rules. It is also the rational Ralph who sees the need to build a fire signal at the top of the mountain. In childish excitement over the adventure of building a fire, all the boys rush off leaving the two sensible characters, Piggy and Ralph, on the beach.
Piggy bemoans the reckless nature of the other boys to his friend and leader. On the mountaintop, the dictatorial Jack takes charge. He rudely grabs the glasses (which are a symbol of intelligence and civilization) from Piggy's face and ironically uses them to start the fire (which is a primitive element). When the rational Piggy tries to warn the children about being frivolous with the fire, they refuse to listen to his wisdom and openly mock him. The result of their irresponsibility is a fire raging out of control and a dead child burned by the blaze. In this chapter, the author introduces two emotions that interrupt the children's fun and games.
A shy little boy states he has seen a beast in the woods, a foreshadowing of things to come. (Ironically, it is this little boy that is burned to death in the fire on the mountaintop. ) Even though the older boys tell the child it was only a nightmare, FEAR is introduced to the group, and their adventure seems to fade a bit. As the story develops, the fear grows and the boys begin to see the beast everywhere -- except in the place of its origin, the human heart. The second emotion is SHAME. When they learn the boy with the mulberry mark has died due to their irresponsibility in building and managing the fire, the boys feel terrible but refuse to openly accept responsibility. By the end of the chapter, the savage element has been introduced in the boy's behavior. The creeping plants have turned into writhing snakes in the fire, and Eden (or unspoiled paradise) is destroyed.
CHAPTER 3 - HUTS ON THE BEACH Jack is alone in the jungle, stalking pigs through the undergrowth. He carries a sharpened stick like a spear, but when he spies a pig, it escapes him. Frustrated by his futile search, he returns to the beach, where Ralph is trying to build shelters for the children. The leader is also frustrated because the huts keep tumbling down. None of the children are seriously interested in working hard, and he has only Simon to help him. Ralph also complains to Jack that everyone attends meetings, listens, talks excitedly about ideas, and then wanders away and does nothing.
He is also worried about the fear of the children, who have bad dreams and cry out at night. Simon agrees that the beastie frightens them greatly. Jack is too busy thinking about pigs to respond. Ralph hints to Jack that his hunters should also help in building shelters rather than roaming the jungle.
This statement angers the Head Hunter, for he believes that finding meat is as important as building huts. Ralph tries to explain his reasoning behind the building project, but there is controlled anger between the two boys. They seem perplexed by their constant disagreement and mutual dislike of one another, but they try to alleviate the tension of the moment by going for a swim. After relaxing in the lagoon, Jack goes back to hunting and Ralph continues his work on the huts.
Simon walks off into the jungle by himself. He finds a place where there is an open space with sweet-scented flowers, butterflies flitting around, and birds chirping. After looking behind him and confirming that he is all alone, he sits down to enjoy the loveliness of nature that surrounds him as the evening slowly fades away. Notes The chapter opens with Jack hunting for meat.
His appearance and behavior have a savage cast to them and foreshadow his later regression. His hair has grown longer, making him appear somewhat wild. He also crawls through the brush on all fours with a "nearly mad" look in his eyes. He seems almost obsessed with the act of hunting and fights with Ralph when the leader suggests his troops should help with building the huts rather than hunting in the jungle. In contrast to Jack, Ralph continues to be the picture of rationality.
He is busy at work building huts for the boys, realizing they need protection from the elements. Unfortunately for him, the only person he can persuade to help him is Simon, the one who can see deeply into things and who realizes the importance of shelter. The other boys have shirked their responsibility and run away from the hard work. Golding seems to be saying that this is a typical behavior of human society. Ralph is also beginning to feel the weariness of duty and responsibility. It is a chore to make certain that the fire continually burns.
It is hard work to build the huts, almost single handedly. It is frustrating that the other boys listen in the meetings, proclaim excitement for ideas, and then do nothing about them. Ralph also feels responsible for the little ones and worries about their being fearful. In this chapter, Simon is also more clearly developed as a character and a Christ-like symbol. Unlike the others, he is willing to give up his fun (to make the sacrifice) to help Ralph in the building of the huts. After being a helper, he wanders off alone to seek a quiet place of solitude where he can observe the beauty of nature and commune with it.
His experience in the jungle is in total contrast to Jack's experience. He appreciates the beautiful butterflies, the fantastic birds, the scented flowers, and the magnificent plants and trees; he takes it all in without disturbing a thing. Jack, on the other hand, plows through the jungle with an eagerness to destroy and kill; he never notices the beauty that surrounds him, is startled by the call of a bird, and is frustrated that he cannot conquer nature. It is not surprising the "savage" Jack would call Simon queer and funny. CHAPTER 4 - PAINTED FACES AND LONG HAIR The children grow accustomed to the pattern of life on the island.
The mornings are bright, pleasant, and filled with enjoyment. The afternoons are hot and create strange and mysterious mirages over the sea. The boys seek relief from the heat, and often sleep in the shade of the trees. Towards evening, it begins to cool, the sea grows calm, and the mirages disappear. As night creeps over the island, the younger children huddle together to calm and protect one another; the menacing darkness causes their fears to grow. The little ones, for the most part, live a life of their own.
They come when the conch is blown, but otherwise they do not bother the older boys. Unfortunately, some of the older ones bully the children. Some of the boys, led by Jack, destroy their sandcastle, and Roger throws stones at Henry. In addition to these torments, the children have other problems with which to cope.
They spend much of their time gathering and eating fruit, which in turn causes stomachaches and chronic diarrhea. They talk about the "beastie" and imagine all sorts of monsters; by nighttime, they are terrified and have trouble sleeping. Constantly tired, ill, and fearful, they play very little and cry a lot. In fact, Percival stayed in a hut for two days, refusing to eat and weeping constantly.
Jack continues his obsession with the hunt. He has smeared his face with colored clay (donned war-paint for hunting) and has his hunters do the same. They are all pleased with their savage faces and set off to hunt once again. The other boys swim in the lagoon while Ralph and Piggy lie on the beach in conversation. Suddenly Ralph jumps up and starts shouting, for he has seen a ship in the distance, a means of being saved.
The boys start to rush up the hill to fan the fire and make more smoke as a signal, but the fire has gone out. Irresponsible and uncaring, Jack and his hunters have not bothered to tend the fire and keep it burning. Shortly after the discovery of the dead fire, Jack and the hunters, covered in blood, return in a procession; they are chanting something warlike and carrying a dead pig on a stake. The excited party tries to describe the hunt in detail, talking especially about the kill and the blood.
Ralph interrupts and bitterly accuses them of irresponsibility for letting the fire burn out. The hunters, still in the grip of the thrill of the hunt, ignore him. Ralph once again tries to make them realize the enormity of their blunder. Piggy also criticizes Jack and the hunters. In quick and angry retaliation, Jack strikes out at Piggy, forcefully slapping his face and breaking one lens of his glasses.
Piggy, who is virtually blind without his corrective lenses, begins to wail, and Jack cruelly mimics him. Ralph is horrified at Jack's brutality and scolds him once again. Jack finally apologizes to everyone for letting the fire die out and spoiling their chance for rescue; but Jack refuses to apologize to Piggy. A barrier of resentment has been firmly planted between the leaders, Ralph and Jack. Once again Piggy's glasses are used to light a fire. They roast the pig and have a feast.
Jack is once again cruel to Piggy and refuses to give him any of the roasted pork. Simon, however, shares his meat with Piggy. To celebrate their victorious conquest, the hunters wildly dance and sing around the fire, enacting the hunt again. Ralph, envious of their joy and success and resentful of their irresponsibility, interrupts their fun and calls a meeting. The leader then walks down the hill toward the beach all by himself. Notes Golding opens the chapter by describing the daily routine of the boys, which should be peaceful and idyllic in this island paradise.
Ironically, their aimless existence is increasingly marred by conflict. The older boys torment the little ones, destroying their sand castle and throwing stones in their direction. The little ones live in fear of the "beastie" and other monsters, and cry incessantly. The hunters refuse to accept any responsibility and let the fire go out. Jack and Ralph openly fight about this irresponsible act, and Jack brutally strikes Piggy in the face, breaking his glasses.
This gradual disintegration is very symbolic, for it is a reflection of a return to savagery. First the strong start attacking the defenseless weaker ones in minor ways. This torment only increases the fear that already exists amongst the weak ones; they become obsessed with monsters and beasts. In their innocence, the weak ones have no idea that the beast to be feared is not a creature from the outside, but a monster from within. Jack is turning into that monster. He paints his face with colored clay, a symbolic war mask that he can hide behind; it seems to free him from the shackles of proper behavior, self-consciousness, or shame.
When he looks in the water at his own painted reflection, he refers to himself as "an awesome stranger. " He has truly and intentionally discarded any trace of civilization. This becomes apparent when he strikes Piggy across the face and breaks his glasses, the symbol of wisdom and civilization. It is not surprising the Jack boldly refuses to apologize for his behavior; as savages do not care about the cruelty they inflict on others. Unfortunately, it is not just Jack who has regressed. The other boys in Jack's "tribe" also put "war-paint" on their faces and leave the group to hunt the pig. When they return, the colored clay on their face has been replaced with blood, symbolic of their further deterioration towards savagery.
At dinner, the hunters wildly chant and sing around the fire, enacting the hunt once again and boldly proclaiming the joy of blood and killing. A psychological interpretation of this degeneration is that the Egos of Jack, Roger and many other boys are liberated from the memories controlled by their Super Egos. They thus give in to their Ids, which are the primitive beings located in the unconscious. At the end of the chapter, the rational Ralph is having inner conflict.
He is almost jealous of the freedom and wild excitement displayed by the hunters, subconsciously knowing he could never be so liberated. At the same time, he is very resentful of their lack of responsibility. The way he handles the celebration and his internal conflict is to try and control the situation. In the middle of the party, he announces to the excited crowd that he is calling a meeting. It is significant to note that there is little response to him or his rational plan. He walks down the hill toward the beach by himself, a foreshadowing of the isolation he will feel throughout the rest of the novel.
CHAPTER 5 - BEAST FROM THE WATER This chapter opens with Ralph walking alone and reflecting on the pathetic state of things. Order and discipline are quickly falling apart, and changes must be made if they are to survive. He decides that the meeting he has just called must be serious business and that he must behave like a real chief. Although the assembly is held at the usual place, it is late and there are long shadows everywhere.
When the group finally gathers, Ralph scolds the assembly for their failure to cooperate and follow the rules. Even the most basic ones relating to sanitation have been ignored. He further reminds them that they need to build huts, store drinking water, and keep the fire burning if they are to survive and be rescued. Ralph then tries to calm their fears...
Free research essays on topics related to: ralph and piggy, jack and the hunters, top of the mountain, build a fire, piggy glasses
Research essay sample on Build A Fire Ralph And Piggy
