Lord of the Flies

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the idea that man is inherently civilized, Lord of the Flies uses BACKGROUND INFO the genre to suggest exactly the opposite. Related Historical Events: World War II influenced the themes AUTHOR BIO and setting of Lord of the Flies. The war changed the way people Full Name: William Golding in general and William Golding in particular viewed the world. World War I was for many years called the War to End All Date of Birth: 1911 Wars. World War II proved that idea wrong and created a new Place of Birth: Cornwall, England sense that people are inherently warlike, power hungry, and Date of Death: 1993 savage. While the world war raging in Lord of the Flies is not World War II, it can be viewed as Golding's version of World Brief Life Story: William Golding's parents brought him up to War III. Only a few brief references to the war outside the boys' be a scientist. But he always had an interest in reading and island appear in the novel, but references to an atom bomb writing, and at Oxford University he shifted from the sciences blowing up an airport and the "Reds" make it clear that the war to literature. Golding fought in World War II, and was involved involves nuclear weapons and places capitalist allies including in the D-Day landing at Normandy. His experience in the war the British against the communist "Reds." greatly influenced his views of human nature. After the war, he began writing novels in addition to teaching. Lord of the Flies was Golding's first novel, published in 1954, and was a critically EXTRA CREDIT acclaimed bestseller in both England and the United States. Beelzebub. The phrase "lord of the flies" is a translation of the Though Golding never again achieved the same commercial Greek "Beelzebub," a devil mentioned in the New Testament. In success, he continued to write and went on to publish many the Bible, Beelzebub sometimes seems to be Satan himself, and more novels, including The Scorpion God (1971), Darkness Visible at other times seems to be Satan's most powerful lieutenant. (1979), and Fire Down Below (1989). He won the Nobel Prize Coral Island. William Golding based several of the main ideas in for literature in 1983 and died in 1993. Lord of the Flies on Coral Island (1858), a somewhat obscure novel by Robert Ballantyne, a 19th-century British novelist. In KEY FACTS Coral Island, three English boys create an idyllic society after Full Title: Lord of the Flies being shipwrecked on a deserted island. They battle wild hogs, typhoons, hostile island visitors, and eventually Pirates on the Genre: Allegorical novel / Adventure novel South Seas. Setting: A deserted tropical island in the middle of a nuclear world war Climax: Piggy's death PLOT OVERVIEW Protagonist: Ralph A group of English schoolboys are marooned on a jungle island Antagonists: Jack and the Lord of the Flies with no adults after their plane is shot down in the middle of a Point of View: Third person omniscient war. Two of the boys, Ralph and Piggy find a conch shell. Ralph blows into it like a horn, and all the boys on the island assemble. At the assembly, a boy named Jack mocks Piggy for being fat HISTORICAL AND LITERARY CONTEXT and runs against Ralph to become chief of the group. Ralph Where Written: England wins the election, and declares Jack the leader of the group's When Published: 1954 hunters. Soon after, Ralph, Jack, and another boy named Simon explore the island and discover wild pigs. Literary Period: Post-war fiction At a second assembly, the boys set up rules to govern Related Literary Works: Adventure stories such as Robinson themselves. The first rule is that whoever wants to speak at an Crusoe and Swiss Family Robinson depict people who are assembly must hold the conch. At the meeting, one young boy stranded on deserted islands transforming and civilizing claims he saw a "beastie" in the jungle, but Ralph dismisses it as nature. Lord of the Flies subverts the genre. It shows boys just the product of a nightmare. Ralph then suggests that they stranded on an island who try to civilize nature, but instead build a signal fire at the top of a mountain so any passing ships descend into savagery. While other adventure novels support will see its smoke and rescue them. The boys use Piggy's

©2015 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com | Follow us: @litcharts | v.S.002 Page 1 The best way to study, teach, and learn about books. glasses to light the fire, but they're careless, and accidentally set part of the forest on fire. The boy who saw the beastie CHARACTERS vanishes during the fire and is never seen again. Ralph – The largest and most physically powerful boy on the Time passes. Tensions rise. Ralph becomes frustrated when no island. Despite his size and strength, Ralph shows no signs of one helps him build shelters. Lots of boys goof off, while Jack wanting to dominate others and is preoccupied with being obsesses about hunting and takes every opportunity to mock rescued. He insists on planning and following the rules, and is Piggy, who is smart but weak. Simon, meanwhile, often wanders able to prioritize the needs of the group above his own selfish off into the forest to meditate. The rivalry between Ralph and desires. For example, Ralph builds the huts even though he Jack erupts when Jack forces the boys who were supposed to dislikes the work, in contrast to the other boys who go off to watch the signal fire come hunting with him. They kill their first play whenever they dislike doing important tasks. Ralph feels pig, but a ship passes while the signal fire is out, which causes a the exhilaration of hunting and killing, but he always manages tremendous argument between Ralph and Jack. to suppress savage feelings. Ralph symbolizes law, government, Ralph calls an assembly hoping to set things right. But the and civil society. meeting soon becomes chaotic as several younger boys talk Piggy – The smartest boy on the island. Due to his obesity and about the beast. Now even the bigger boys are fearful. That asthma, Piggy is also the weakest of the biguns. Piggy believes night, after a distant airplane battle, a dead parachutist lands on passionately in civilization, law, and reasoning through the mountaintop next to the signal fire. The boys on duty at the problems, but he seldom does any work because of his obesity fire think it's the beast. Soon Ralph and Jack lead an expedition and his nonstop craving for food. Piggy also has a tendency to to search the island for the beast. While searching, they find a lecture and criticize. His condescension infuriates the other rock outcropping that would make a great fort, but no beast. boys and inspires them to single him out, ridicule him, and even Tempers between the two boys soon flare up, and they climb physically abuse him. Piggy symbolizes science and rationality. the mountain in the dark to prove their courage. They spot the Jack – The head boy of his chorus back in civilization, Jack shadowy parachutist and think he's the beast. becomes the leader of the hunters on the island. Jack loves The next morning, Jack challenges Ralph's authority at an power. Laws and rules interest him only because they give him assembly. Ralph wins, but Jack leaves the group, and most of the chance to punish the other boys and express his dominance the older boys join him. Jack's tribe paint their faces, hunt, and over them. He loves to hunt and kill because it gives him a kill a pig. They then leave its head as an offering to the beast. chance to dominate nature. Jack gets angry whenever he Simon comes upon the head, and sees that it's the Lord of the doesn't get his way: he believes a proper leader issues orders Flies—the beast within all men. While Jack invites everyone to and is obeyed. By the end of the novel he becomes exactly that come to a feast, Simon climbs the mountain and sees the sort of leader, wielding power only for his own whim and parachutist. When Simon returns to tell everyone the truth benefit. Jack symbolizes the human love of dominance and power. about the "beast," however, the boys at the feast have become a frenzied mob, acting out a ritual killing of a pig. The mob thinks Simon – A dreamy, dark haired boy, prone to fainting spells and Simon is the beast and kills him. occasional fits. Simon is the only member of Jack's chorus who doesn't become a hunter. The most generous of the biguns, Jack's tribe moves to the rock fort. They steal Piggy's glasses to Simon helps Ralph build the shelters not out of a sense of duty, make fire. Ralph and his last allies, Piggy and the twins named but because he wants to. Simon is also the most insightful and Samneric, go to get the glasses back. Jack's tribe captures the in many ways the bravest of the boys. Only Simon recognizes twins, and a boy named Roger rolls a boulder from the fort that that the boys carry the beast within themselves; only Simon smashes the conch and kills Piggy. The next day the tribe hunts suggests that they confront the "beast" by climbing the Ralph, setting fire to the forest as they do. He evades them as mountain; and only Simon is unafraid when alone in the jungle. best he can, and becomes a kind of animal that thinks only of Some critics have called Simon a symbol of Jesus Christ, but his survival and escape. Eventually the boys corner Ralph on the symbolic role is actually more general. With his fits and spiritual beach where they first set up their society when they crash insights, he stands for the mystics, prophets, and priests of all landed on the island. But the burning jungle has attracted a religions who confront and reveal the darkest aspects of human British Naval ship, and an officer is standing on the shore. The nature. boys stop, stunned, and stare at the man. He jokingly asks if the boys are playing at war, and whether there were any casualties. Roger – A quiet, brooding member of Jack's chorus. Roger is at When Ralph says yes, the officer is shocked and disappointed first little more than a mystery, a quiet, intense boy who seems that English boys would act in such a manner. Ralph starts to to hide himself from the other boys. But as the trappings of cry, and soon the other boys start crying too. The officer, civilization begin to recede on the island, Roger begins to reveal uncomfortable, looks away toward his warship. himself, first yb throwing rocks at littleuns (and purposely

©2015 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com | Follow us: @litcharts | v.S.002 Page 2 The best way to study, teach, and learn about books. missing), then by killing a pig more viciously than necessary, human nature, free from the constraints of society, draws then by rolling a boulder down on Piggy, then by torturing people away from reason toward savagery. Samneric, and finally yb sharpening a stick on which he plans to The makeshift civilization the boys form in Lord of the Flies stake Ralph's head, just as he earlier staked a pig's head. While collapses under the weight of their innate savagery: rather than Jack loves power, Roger loves to cause pain. He symbolizes follow rules and work hard, they pursue fun, succumb to fear, mankind's sadistic instincts, the suppressed desire to hurt others. and fall to violence. Golding's underlying argument is that The Lord of the Flies – The pig head that Jack's hunters stake human beings are savage by nature, and are moved by primal into the ground and leave as an offering to the beast. Simon urges toward selfishness, brutality, and dominance over others. recognizes that the Lord of the Flies is the savage monster Though the boys think the beast lives in the jungle, Golding buried in everyone. When the Lord of Flies tells Simon "we are makes it clear that it lurks only in their hearts. going to have fun on this island," it means they're going to indulge every want and desire, without regard to the rules of 2 CIVILIZATION civilization. The Lord of the Flies symbolizes the evil in all men's Although Golding argues that people are fundamentally savage, souls, and is also covered in the Symbols section. drawn toward pleasure and violence, human beings have Samneric – The identical twins Sam and Eric who do everything successfully managed to create thriving civilizations for together. They so closely resemble each other that the other thousands of years. So that disproves Golding's theory about boys use just one name to refer to both of them. The twins human nature being savage, right? Wrong. The famous prove to be less influenced by fear of the beast or Jack than any psychologist Sigmund Freud argued that without the innate of the other boys (except Ralph and Piggy), perhaps because as human capacity to repress desire, civilization would not exist. In twins they're less alone than any of the other boys. Lord of the Flies, Golding makes a similar argument. He depicts Phil – A littleun who says he saw the beast, though the "beast" civilization as a veil that through its rules and laws masks the turns out to be Simon coming back from the jungle. evil within every individual. So even while civilizations thrive, they are merely hiding the beast. They have not destroyed it. Percival Wemys Madison – A littleun who states his name, address, and telephone number whenever he talks to someone The Lord of the Flies is a chronicle of civilization giving way to older, and who says the beast comes from the sea. the savagery within human nature, as boys shaped by the supremely civilized British society become savages guided only British Naval Officer – An officer on a warship of the British by fear, superstition, and desire. And even before the boy's Navy. He believes wholeheartedly that Britain is superior to all become fully savage under Jack, Golding shows hints of the other civilizations. savage beast within society by showing Piggy's love of food, the Henry – A littleun at whom Roger throws rocks. way the boys laugh when Jack mocks Piggy, and all the boys' Maurice – A bigun. irrational fear of the "beast." And as the boys on the island shed Robert – A bigun. civilization for savagery, the adults of the supposedly "civilized" world outside the island are engaged in a savage and brutal Bill – A bigun. worldwide nuclear war.

THEMES 3 SAVAGERY AND THE "BEAST" The "beast" is a symbol Golding uses to represent the savage In LitCharts each theme gets its own color and number. Our impulses lying deep within every human being. Civilization color-coded theme boxes make it easy to track where the exists to suppress the beast. By keeping the natural human themes occur throughout the work. If you don't have a color desire for power and violence to a minimum, civilization forces printer, use the numbers instead. people to act responsibly and rationally, as boys like Piggy and Ralph do in Lord in the Flies. Savagery arises when civilization 1 HUMAN NATURE stops suppressing the beast: it's the beast unleashed. Savages William Golding once said that in writing Lord of the Flies he not only acknowledge the beast, they thrive on it and worship it aimed to trace society's flaws back to their source in human like a god. As Jack and his tribe become savages, they begin to nature. By leaving a group of English schoolboys to fend for believe the beast exists physically—they even leave it offerings themselves on a remote jungle island, Golding creates a kind of to win its favor to ensure their protection. Civilization forces human nature laboratory in order to examine what happens people to hide from their darkest impulses, to suppress them. when the constraints of civilization vanish and raw human Savages surrender to their darkest impulses, which they nature takes over. In Lord of the Flies, Golding argues that attribute to the demands of gods who require their obedience.

©2015 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com | Follow us: @litcharts | v.S.002 Page 3 The best way to study, teach, and learn about books. 4 SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGION THE CONCH SHELL Most of the boys on the island either hide behind civilization, The conch shell symbolizes the rule of law and civilization. It's denying the beast's existence, or succumb to the beast's power used to call assemblies and as a kind of microphone that grants by embracing savagery. But in Lord of the Flies, Golding presents the right to speak to whomever holds it during assembly. an alternative to civilized suppression and beastly savagery. This is a life of religion and spiritual truth-seeking, in which men PIGGY'S GLASSES look into their own hearts, accept that there is a beast within, and face it squarely. By allowing the boys to create fire, the first necessity of civilization, Piggy's glasses represent science and technology, Simon occupies this role in Lord of the Flies, and in doing so he mankind's power to transform and remake their environment symbolizes all the great spiritual and religious men, from Jesus to best suit its needs. to Buddha to nameless mystics and shamans, who have sought to help other men accept and face the terrible fact that the beast they fear is themselves. Of all the boys, only Simon fights FIRE through his own fear to discover that the "beast" at the Fire is a complicated symbol in Lord of the Flies. Like the glasses mountaintop is just a dead man. But when Simon returns with that create it, fire represents technology. Yet like the atomic the news that there's no real beast, only the beast within, the bombs destroying the world around the boys' island, fire is a other boys kill him. Not just the savages, not just the civilized technology that threatens destruction if it gets out of control. boys—all the boys kill Simon, because all of the boys lack the Fire also symbolizes the boy's connection to human civilization: courage Simon displayed in facing the beast. their signal fire gives them hope of rescue.

5 THE WEAK AND THE STRONG ADULTS Within the larger battle of civilization and savagery ravaging Adults symbolize civilization and social order to the boys. But the boys's community on the island, Lord of the Flies also depicts to the reader, the world war raging outside the island makes it in great detail the relationships and power dynamics between clear that the adult "civilization" is as savage as the boys' the boys. In particular, the novel shows how boys fight to "civilization" on the island. belong and be respected by the other boys. The main way in which the boys seek this belonging and respect is to appear strong and powerful. And in order to appear strong and THE SCAR powerful, boys give in to the savage instinct to ignore, pick on, A rip in the forest caused by the crash landing of the boys' plane mock, or even physically abuse boys who are weaker than them. on the island. The scar symbolizes that man, and his savage Over and over, Lord of the Flies shows instances where a boy nature, destroys paradise merely by entering it. who feels vulnerable will save himself by picking on a weaker boy. THE OCEAN The ocean symbolizes the unconscious, the thoughts and SYMBOLS desires buried deep within all humans.

Symbols appear in red text throughout the Summary & Analysis sections of this LitChart. QUOTES The color-coded boxes under each quote below make it easy to THE ISLAND track the themes related to each quote. Each color corresponds The tropical island, with its bountiful food and untouched to one of the themes explained in the Themes section of this beauty, symbolizes paradise. It is like a Garden of Eden in which LitChart. the boys can try to create the perfect society from scratch. CHAPTER 1 QUOTES THE LORD OF THE FLIES (THE BEAST) "Aren't there any grownups at all?" The "Lord of the Flies," or the beast, inhabits the severed head "I don't think so." of a pig staked into the ground. It symbolizes the evil that lies The fair boy said this solemnly; but then the delight of a within every person. realized ambition overcame him. In the middle of the scar he

©2015 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com | Follow us: @litcharts | v.S.002 Page 4 The best way to study, teach, and learn about books. stood on his head and grinned at the reversed fat boy. •Related themes: Civilization "No grownups!" •Theme Tracker code: •Speaker: Ralph, Piggy 2 •Related themes: Human Nature, Civilization •Theme Tracker code: CHAPTER 4 QUOTES 1 2 Roger stooped, picked up a stone, aimed, and threw it at Henry — threw it to miss. The stone, that token of preposterous time, bounded five yards to Henry's right and fell in the water. Roger "We can use this to call the others. Have a meeting. They'll gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them. Yet come when they hear us—" there was a space round Henry, perhaps six yards in diameter, He beamed at Ralph. into which he dare not throw. Here, invisible yet strong, was "That was what you meant, didn't you? That's why you got the the taboo of the old life. Round the squatting child was the conch out of the water." protection of parents and school and policemen and the law. •Speaker: Piggy •Mentioned or related characters: Roger, Henry •Mentioned or related characters: Ralph •Related themes: Human Nature, Civilization, Savagery and •Related themes: Civilization, The Weak and the Strong the "Beast", The Weak and the Strong •Theme Tracker code: •Theme Tracker code: 2 5 1 2 3 5

CHAPTER 2 QUOTES "Kill the pig! Cut her throat! Spill the blood!" "He says he saw the beastie, the snake-thing, and will it come •Speaker: Jack back tonight?" "But there isn't a beastie!" •Related themes: Human Nature, Savagery and the "Beast" "He says in the morning it turned into them things like ropes in •Theme Tracker code: the trees and hung in the branches. He says will it come back again tonight?" 1 3 "But there isn't a beastie!" There was no laughter at all now and more grave watching. His mind was crowded with memories; memories of the Ralph pushed both hands through his hair and looked at the knowledge that had come to them when they closed in on the little boy in mixed amusement and exasperation. struggling pig, knowledge that they had outwitted a living thing, •Speaker: Ralph, Piggy imposed their will upon it, taken away its life like a long •Related themes: Human Nature, Civilization, Savagery and satisfying drink. the "Beast" •Mentioned or related characters: Jack •Theme Tracker code: •Related themes: Human Nature, Civilization, Savagery and 1 2 3 the "Beast", The Weak and the Strong •Theme Tracker code:

Ralph waved the conch. 1 2 3 5 "Shut up! Wait! Listen!" He went on in the silence, borne on in his triumph. CHAPTER 5 QUOTES "There's another thing. We can help them to find us. If a ship What I mean is... Maybe it's only us... comes near the island they may not notice us. So we must make smoke on top of the mountain. We must make a fire." •Speaker: Simon "A fire! Make a fire!" •Mentioned or related characters: The Lord of the Flies •Speaker: Ralph

•Related themes: Human Nature, Savagery and the "Beast", wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man's heart, and Spirituality and Religion the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy. •Theme Tracker code: •Mentioned or related characters: Ralph, Piggy 1 3 4 •Related themes: Human Nature, Civilization, Savagery and the "Beast", The Weak and the Strong CHAPTER 8 QUOTES •Theme Tracker code: The spear moved forward inch by inch and the terrified 1 2 3 5 squealing became a high-pitched scream. Then Jack found the throat and the hot blood spouted over his hands. The sow collapsed under them and they were heavy and fulfilled upon SUMMARY & ANALYSIS her. The color-coded boxes under "Analysis & Themes" below make •Mentioned or related characters: Jack it easy to track the themes throughout the work. Each color •Related themes: Human Nature, Savagery and the "Beast", corresponds to one of the themes explained in the Themes Spirituality and Religion, The Weak and the Strong section of this LitChart. •Theme Tracker code: CHAPTER 1 1 3 4 5 An English schoolboy of about The boys are nameless. Names twelve years old explores a are a product of society, which jungle. A second boy soon joins the boys have now left. The There isn't anyone to help you. Only me. And I'm the Beast... the first. The first boy is tall, island is a paradise not just Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and handsome, and athletic. The because it's lush and beautiful, kill!... You knew, didn't you? I'm part of you? Close, close, close! second is fat and wears but also because it's a blank slate I'm the reason why it's no go? Why things are the way they are? glasses. The boys discuss what on which the supposedly happened and how they got to innocent boys can build •Speaker: The Lord of the Flies the jungle. They're fairly sure something new. •Mentioned or related characters: Simon the plane they were in was 1 •Related themes: Human Nature, Savagery and the "Beast", shot down and crash landed on Spirituality and Religion an island, and that all the adults on the plane were killed. •Theme Tracker code: They wonder if any of the 1 3 4 other schoolboys on the flight survived. CHAPTER 12 QUOTES The fat boy asks the tall boy his Ralph ignores the fat boy name. The tall boy answers, because the boy is fat and weak. What did it mean? A stick sharpened at both ends. What was Ralph. But instead of asking Even in paradise, human nature there in that? the fat boy's name, Ralph is prejudiced against weakness. •Speaker: Ralph wanders off. The fat boy 1 5 •Related themes: Human Nature, Savagery and the "Beast", follows, but can barely keep up Spirituality and Religion, The Weak and the Strong because of his asthma. When the fat boy starts eating some •Theme Tracker code: fruit, Ralph slips away and 1 3 4 5 finds a beautiful beach.

His voice rose under the black smoke before the burning wreckage of the island; and infected by that emotion, the other little boys began to shake and sob too. And in the middle of them, with filthy body, matted hair, and unwiped nose, Ralph

Eventually the fat boy finds Piggy, the weak boy, tries to win Ralph decides the boys must The three boys who symbolize Ralph and proposes they call a the friendship of Ralph, the explore their island. He and civilization, savagery, and meeting and make a list of strong boy. Piggy's desperation Jack will both go, of course. spirituality all go to explore the everyone who survived. He only makes him seem more weak. Ralph ignores Piggy's whining island together. As of now, all lets slip that in school people pleas to be included, and picks three are united. called him Piggy. Ralph laughs. 1 5 Simon to be the third explorer. Piggy begs Ralph not to tell Ralph, Jack, and Simon have a 2 3 4 anyone. great time exploring, and stop to push a huge boulder off a The boys keep exploring. Ralph Though weak, Piggy is smarter cliff, which seems to them like a finds a perfect swimming hole than Ralph. He comes up with great accomplishment. and says his father, who's in the idea for the meeting and the Navy, will come rescue using the conch. By blowing the The boys climb to the highest Ralph claims the island for them. But Piggy is fairly conch, Ralph and Piggy both peak on the island, which they civilization. But in doing so he certain that no one knows become civilizing forces: they call the mountain, from where also claims the scar, the symbol where they landed. Piggy says organize the boys to figure out they can see that they're on an of the savagery that exists in they have to do something. what to do. uninhabited island. They also human nature. Just then, Ralph spots a huge see the "scar" where the conch shell. Piggy realizes they 2 5 crashing plane tore through 1 2 3 can use it as a trumpet. Piggy the jungle. Ralph says of the can't blow it himself, because island, "This belongs to us." of his asthma, but shows Ralph Soon the boys head back down Jack's still too "civilized" to kill how to do it. Ralph blows, and the mountain to the beach. On the pig. But the sight of the pig a huge blast sounds. the way, they spot a wild pig sparks his savage desire to All the boys gather on the The meeting is Piggy's effort to caught in vines. Jack pulls out dominate anything that lives. beach: they range in age from build a "civilization," but already his pocket knife, but pauses six to twelve. There's one set Jack seeks to take over by before striking, and the pig 2 3 of twins, Sam and Eric. A group mocking Piggy. Ralph plays along, escapes. Jack vows not to of the older boys are members wanting to seem strong. Fainting hesitate next time. of a choir, dressed in black. spells like Simon's were once Their leader is Jack, a redhead considered signs of a spiritual CHAPTER 2 who tries to take control of the connection to higher powers. Back at the beach, Ralph blows Jack needs to be in control: he meeting. One of the boys in the conch to call another interrupts Ralph to demonstrate the choir, Simon, faints. Jack 1 2 3 4 5 meeting. Ralph announces that his importance. soon tells Piggy to shut up, and they're on an uninhabited calls him "Fatty." Ralph island. Jack interrupts to say 1 3 5 gleefully reveals that Piggy's that they still need an army in name is "Piggy." Everyone order to hunt pigs. laughs, humiliating Piggy. Ralph says that without adults, The boys' first law is focused on The boys decide to vote for a As the conch-blower, Ralph they'll have to take care of the conch and made by Ralph. leader. Everyone in the choir symbolizes civilization. But themselves. He makes a rule votes for Jack, but all the other Ralph realizes he must keep Jack that whoever holds the conch 2 boys vote for Ralph because happy: civilization makes a deal at meetings gets to speak. he blew the conch. To keep with savagery. Jack, excited, shouts out that Jack likes law only because he Jack happy, Ralph says that the they can make more rules and likes to punish. choir will be hunters and Jack 2 3 punish whoever breaks them. will lead them. 3 5

Piggy takes the conch and says Only Piggy sees the big picture. The fire burns out because the The rivalry between the savage no one knows they're on the Ralph and the other boys focus wood is so dry. Piggy starts to (Jack) and intellectual (Piggy) island. Ralph agrees, but on short term pleasure and fun. criticize the boys, but Jack intensifies. Note also Simon's describes the island as a good shouts him down. Simon generosity. place where they'll have fun 2 3 points out that Piggy's glasses even if they have to stay for a made the fire possible. 2 3 4 5 long time. Ralph says they have to keep Jack takes on keeping the boys A nervous little boy with a The beast's first appearance. It the fire burning every day linked to civilization.. This seems birthmark that covers half his symbolizes the evil in human without fail. Jack volunteers like a bad fit. face steps forward. After some nature. Jack, the symbol of himself and his hunters to do prodding, the boy whispers to savagery, says the beast doesn't the job. 2 3 Piggy, and Piggy tells everyone exist but also that his hunters will Piggy notices that sparks from Though they know Piggy's right, what the boy said. He saw a kill it. He uses the beast to make their signal fire have set the the other boys still gang up on "beastie," a "snake-thing," the himself more powerful. Ralph, trees below them on fire. He him. The boy who saw the previous night in the woods. the symbol of civilization, just argues that instead of running "beastie" was actually killed, Ralph and the older boys denies that the beast exists. off to start a fire they should symbolically, by the beast: the dismiss this "beastie" as just a have first made shelters. The boys' savage desire to have "fun." nightmare, but the younger 1 2 3 5 other boys shout at him again, boys seem scared. Jack grabs but are disturbed. Piggy asks 2 3 5 the conch and says there's no where the boy with the snake-thing. If there is, he birthmark who saw the adds, his hunters will find and "beastie" is. No one knows. kill it. Ralph also says there's no snake-thing. CHAPTER 3 Ralph says he's confident they Fire leads to rescue, which leads It's weeks later. In the deep Jack becomes obsessed with boys will be rescued. He back to civilization. silence of the jungle, Jack killing a pig, but some shred of suggests they build a fire on tracks a pig and hurls his spear civilization still holds him back. the mountaintop to alert 2 at it. As usual, he misses. Jack rescuers. returns to the beach, 2 3 frustrated and angry. Excited by the idea of building Civilized and intelligent, Piggy a fire, the boys jump up and prefers organized plans to short- On the beach, Ralph and Savagery confronts civilization: run to collect wood and bring it sighted "fun." Simon are building huts. Ralph as Jack hunts, Ralph builds to the mountain top. Piggy, left is frustrated because only he shelters. Note that only Simon alone at the meeting place, 2 3 and Simon are working on the helps Ralph build the huts. disgustedly says that the other huts, which are falling apart. boys are acting like a bunch of He complains to Jack that 2 3 4 kids. everyone else is off playing or hunting. The boys make a pile of dead Piggy's glasses symbolize wood on the mountain. They technology, mankind's ability to Ralph's complaint offends The instinct toward savagery can't figure out how start the harness nature to build tools. Jack. Ralph points out that all cannot be conveyed in words. fire until Jack grabs the glasses Here the boys use technology to the hunters except Jack came Language is a product of the off Piggy's face. Ralph uses the help their return to civilization. back hours ago, and are now civilization that Jack is glasses to focus the sun's rays swimming and playing. Jack abandoning. on the wood. Piggy is terrified, 2 3 5 tries to explain his obsession nearly blind without his with catching and killing a pig, 3 glasses. but can't find the words. Ralph and Jack argue whether Savagery again clashes with hunting is as important as civilization. building shelters. 2 3

Ralph says they need shelters Simon's sense of the island is Roger watches Henry from a Roger treats Henry as Henry because many of the boys are mystical, as if it's haunted. Jack, distance, and finds some nuts treats the animals. Roger wants scared. Simon observes that it a hunter, feels hunted himself. blown from a tree. After a to go further, to actually hurt is as if the island is bad, not the But the boys have yet to figure pause, Roger throws the nuts Henry, but civilization holds him good island Ralph described in out what is haunting the island. and then some stones at back. Chapter 2. Jack agrees. While Henry, but he purposely aims hunting in the jungle, he says, 3 4 to miss by a few feet. 1 2 3 5 he often feels like he's the one Jack emerges from the forest Jack's mask shields him from who's being hunted. and calls to Roger, telling him civilization's hold, stripping him Ralph puts the focus of the Civilized Ralph builds shelters to follow. In the jungle, Jack of his civilized identity, making conversation back on getting out of necessity. Civilization paints his own face for hunting him anonymous and free from rescued. He mentions Jack suppresses the desire to "have camouflage. The mask makes shame. and the hunter's responsibility fun" by making people feel shame him feel liberated: Jack begins for the fire, which causes for not acting responsibly. dancing and snarling. He gets 3 another argument. Jack claims Successful societies suppress the Roger, Samneric, and some hunting is work. Ralph shouts beast, but never destroy it. others to come hunt with him. that while Jack likes hunting, On the beach, a bunch of Jack hunts pigs to feel strong and he's stuck building shelters for 2 biguns, including Ralph and part of a group. "Civilized" boys the good of everyone, not for Piggy, rest and talk. Soon Piggy pick on Piggy for the same pleasure. They go for a swim comes up with a plan for them reason: it's human nature. that just barely manages to to build sundials so they'll cool down their anger. know the time. The other boys 1 2 3 5 Simon slips away into the Unlike the civilized Ralph, Simon laugh at him: his obesity, forest. He helps some of the enjoys building shelters. Unlike glasses, and asthma make him younger boys gather fruit, then the savage Jack, Simon is an outsider. finds a beautiful glade hidden perfectly comfortable and Suddenly Ralph spots smoke Savagery and civilization clash in by creeper vines. He sneaks unafraid in the jungle. on the horizon—it's a ship! the open for the first time. Jack inside and contemplates the Everyone looks at the chooses to hunt over tending the island's sights and sounds in a 4 mountain, but there's no fire. His choice has devastating kind of spiritual meditation. smoke from their signal fire. consequences: a ship and the CHAPTER 4 They run to the mountaintop prospect of rescue pass. Jack has and discover the fire is dead decided that rescue (civilization) The boys adjust to life on the For now, the beast exists in the and the ship has passed. Below is not as important to him as island. The younger boys are boys' nightmares, but it will soon them they see a procession of hunting (savagery), while Ralph now called 'littleuns." The older enter their conscious minds. hunters carrying a pig on a spit has clearly taken the other side. boys are "biguns." The littleuns and chanting, "Kill the pig. Cut generally play all day and 1 3 5 her throat. Spill her blood." The 2 3 become terrified at night. hunters come up to the As three littleuns play in the Though quite young, Henry mountaintop. Jack, not sand, two biguns, Maurice and shows the innate savage love of realizing what's happened, is Roger, emerge from the forest. dominance and power as he triumphant after killing the pig. Maurice heads off to swim, but enjoys controlling animals Furious, Ralph tells Jack about Roger stays behind. When one smaller than he is. the ship. Jack responds of the littleuns, Henry, defensively: he says he needed wanders off, Roger follows 1 3 5 more hunters to circle the pig. him. Henry plays at the edge of the ocean, happily controlling the movements of the little animals living there.

Piggy and even some of the When he feels most vulnerable, Ralph observes that people Both the civilized (Piggy) and the hunters start yelling at Jack. Jack abuses a victim weaker than are becoming afraid. He savage (Jack) continue to deny Jack, humiliated and angry, hits he to regain his authority. doesn't know why, but he the existence of the beast. Piggy. Piggy's glasses fly off, thinks they should discuss breaking a lens. Jack mocks 1 5 their fear to overcome it. Jack 2 3 Piggy and everyone laughs. takes the conch. He calls the littleun's crybabies. He says Eventually Jack apologizes for The boys take sides: Ralph and he's been all over the island, letting the fire die. Ralph asks Piggy favor rescue and and there's no beast. Piggy Piggy's permission to use his civilization, while Jack favors agrees with Jack. glasses to light the fire. Ralph hunting and savagery. realizes he and Piggy have A littleun named Phil stands up Only Simon would even consider become allies. 2 and says he saw the beast in walking into the forest alone at the forest the previous night. night. Only Simon knows there's They cook the pig, but Jack Simon is generous and not in To everyone's shock, Simon nothing to fear. refuses to give Piggy any meat. conflict with anyone. says the boy probably just saw Simon shares with Piggy. 4 3 him—Simon went walking in the forest that night. Jack and his boys begin to Ralph interrupts the savage reenact the killing of the pig in ritual dance by calling a meeting, Another littleun stands and Percival's only remaining a kind of ritual dance. Ralph a symbol of civilization. identifies himself as Percival connections to civilization are his announces that he's calling an Wemys Madison. He gives his name and address. Civilization is assembly and walks away. 2 3 London address, and tries to slowly receding. give his telephone number, but CHAPTER 5 can't remember it and begins 2 Ralph paces the beach, Ralph is no longer blinded by to cry. planning what he'll say at the Piggy's weakness. When Percival recovers his The ocean symbolizes the meeting and wishing he could voice, he tells the other boys unconscious. So Percival's claim 2 5 think as well as Piggy can. that the beast comes from the is accurate. Finally, he blows the conch. sea. This idea terrifies the 1 Everyone gathers and listens Civilization involves planning boys. to Ralph. He explains that the and work, not fun. It's the force Simon takes the conch. He Simon reveals the truth. But meeting is about setting things that suppresses mankind's says maybe the boys Piggy, the most civilized boy, straight, not fun. He points out savage inclination to pursue themselves are the beast. can't accept it. The conflict all the things they said they'd short term pleasures, like Piggy thinks this idea is crazy. brings the boys to a hopeless do, but didn't: store water, hunting. Many of the boys think Simon's standstill. build shelters, keep the signal saying the beast is a ghost. 2 3 fire going. He says the fire is Ralph holds a vote on whether 2 4 the most important thing on the boys believe in ghosts. A the island. majority raises their hands. Jack stands and reaches for Jack's actions show he still Piggy grabs the conch and Civilized and savage blame each the conch so he can talk. But respects the rules of the boys' shouts that ghosts don't exist. other for the subconscious fear Ralph refuses to hand it over civilization. He asks the boys if they're they both feel: that the beast lies and Jack sits back down. humans or savages? He within them. 2 3 mentions the hunters letting the fire go out. Jack furiously 1 2 3 5 rips the conch from him.

Ralph accuses Jack of Jack breaks with civilization. Ralph calls a meeting that The beast makes the boys crave a breaking the rules. Jack Earlier, Ralph stopped a ritual quickly becomes heated. Jack strong leader, giving Jack more questions Ralph's leadership. dance by calling a meeting. Now questions Ralph's decisions weight. At the same time, most of He says he doesn't care about Jack stops the meeting by and leadership, mocks Piggy, the boys still favor rescue and the rules, that he'll hunt the starting a ritual dance. and claims the conch no longer civilization over savagery. beast and kill it. He starts a matters. For an instant it chant on the beach. Everyone 2 3 5 seems as if Jack might take 1 2 3 5 but Ralph, Piggy, and Simon over leadership of the boys, join him. but Ralph turns the tables and wins everyone to his side by Piggy tells Ralph to blow the Ralph knows civilization's hold is asking if they want to be conch, but Ralph refuses. What slipping, and fears breaking it rescued or not. if no one responded? Ralph completely. Piggy realizes that considers stepping down as doing nothing will allow Jack Ralph and the biguns agree to Jack follows Ralph to appear chief, but Piggy protests. He (savagery) to prevail. search the island. Piggy stays strong and undaunted in the eyes says everything would behind to look after the of other boys. He can't allow descend into chaos, and then 2 3 littleuns. At the far tip of the Ralph to upstage him and Jack would target Piggy. island, the biguns find a rock thereby appear to be the more formation Jack calls the courageous and deserving leader. The three boys wish adults To the boys, adults represent "castle." The rock is accessible were around to make civilization. only by a piece of stone forty 1 2 3 5 everything better. Ralph feet above the water below. wishes the adults would at 2 They think it might be the least send them a sign. beast's hideout. Ralph, as the CHAPTER 6 leader, volunteers to search it. Jack follows behind him. That night, airplanes battle in A sign from the adult world the night sky, high and far arrives. But it's a dead soldier, The boys find no beast, but In Chapter 1, the boys move a enough away that none of the signalling that adult "civilization" Jack is excited because the boulder in fellowship. Now Jack boys wake. A dead pilot from also hides savagery within. rock protects a cave and would is excited to use boulders to kill. one of the destroyed planes make a terrific fort. It even has drifts down on a parachute and 3 boulders, which, if pushed in 2 3 lands on the mountain top next the right way, could roll down to the signal fire. to crush approaching enemies. Samneric are on fire duty on The sign from the adult world is Jack and the other biguns The other boys want to "have the mountain top, but they are the beast. The beast has put out want to stay and play at the fun," Ralph wants to rebuild asleep. When they wake in the the signal fire, which is the boys' fort, but Ralph says they have civilization in the form of the early morning before dawn, last link to civilization. to go search the mountain for signal fire. they see the dead pilot in the the beast and relight the signal shadows. It sits up and falls 2 3 fire. 2 3 down when the wind catches the parachute, which they think are wings. They run to the beach in terror to tell the others that the beast chased them down the mountain.

©2015 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com | Follow us: @litcharts | v.S.002 Page 11 The best way to study, teach, and learn about books. CHAPTER 7 Jack mocks Ralph's concern People are uncomfortable facing for Piggy. Ralph asks Jack why questions that hint at the beast While resting on the hike to The ocean symbolizes the he hates him. The question within. the mountain, Ralph wishes he subconscious, where the beast makes all the boys nervous. could cut his hair, clip his nails, lurks; it does separate Ralph from 3 and get cleaned up. civilization. Note that Simon Remembering his past in predicts only Ralph's safe return, At the base of the mountain, The conflict between Jack England, he stares at the ocean not his own. the boys stop for the night. But (savagery) and Ralph and thinks how big it is and Jack questions Ralph's (civilization) for control and how it separates the boys from 1 2 3 4 courage, and so Ralph agrees power serves only the beast's civilization. Simon seems to to climb right then. Only Roger benefit. Here Jack and his read Ralph's mind, and agrees to accompany them. savagery prevail, luring the boys reassures him. "You'll get back Halfway up the mountain, deeper into believing in the alright," he says. Ralph decides it's foolish to go beasts' physical existence. up in the dark. Jack insists on A while later as they head Ralph's excitement at killing the going ahead as Ralph and 2 3 through the jungle toward the shows that even he has a savage Roger wait behind. A few mountain, the boys find signs side to him, though it's more minutes later Jack returns of pigs. Ralph agrees that as repressed. The ritual dance gains saying he saw something. The long as they're going in the in power, almost killing Robert three boys climb the mountain right direction, they can hunt. and foreshadowing future to the peak, blinded by Soon, they come upon a wild trouble. darkness. The wind blows. The boar. The boar gets away, but 1 2 3 5 parachutist sits up. The boys not before Ralph hits it in the run for it. side with a spear. Flushed with pride, Ralph reenacts the hunt CHAPTER 8 with a bigun named Robert. Back on the beach, Piggy can't The intellectual Piggy can't Soon all the boys are involved, believe the beast is real. He fathom the beast's existence. chanting "Kill the pig. Cut its asks what they should do. Ralph considers the beast an throat." For a brief, moment, it Ralph isn't sure. He says the enemy of civilization and rescue. seems like they might actually beast is sitting up by the signal kill Robert. fire as if trying to intercept 2 The boys finally stop and All the boys' suggestions, from their rescue. discuss how to do the dance drums to human sacrifice, would Jack says his hunters could kill By blowing the conch to call a properly. Maurice suggests a make the dance more "savage," the beast. Ralph says they're meeting, Jack shows he's still drum and fire. Robert says and foreshadow more violence. just boys with sticks. playing by civilization's rules. they need to use a real pig next 3 5 Infuriated, Jack blows the Note that Jack links himself and time, so they can really kill it. conch to call a meeting. Ralph his boys to the beast by calling it Jack suggests they use a begins to talk but Jack says he a hunter. littleun. All the other boys called the meeting with the laugh. conch, so he should get to 1 2 3 Darkness falls before they Only Simon understands that the speak. Ralph lets him. Jack says reach the mountain. Ralph beast is within. He doesn't fear they've seen the beast: it's a realizes that they need to send the jungle because the beast isn't hunter. someone to tell Piggy they there. Next Jack accuses Ralph of The boys' allegiance still remains won't be back that night. 4 5 belittling the hunters. He says with civilization and order. Everyone's too frightened to Ralph is like Piggy and isn't a They're unwilling to surrender to volunteer, except Simon. proper chief. Jack calls for a savagery…so far. vote to remove Ralph and make Jack chief. Nobody votes 2 for Jack.

Jack storms off, humiliated and Jack (savagery) forms his own Simon witnesses the killing Simon recognizes that the crying. He vows to form a new tribe outside civilization. Simon and staking of the pig from his offering to the beast actually is group, and says anyone can (spirituality) suggests they secret spot in the glade. Simon the beast. In trying to appease join him when he hunts. He confront the beast. Piggy is thirsty and exhausted, and the beast by sacrificing to it, disappears into the forest. (civilization) strives to find a way the pig's head seems to talk to Jack's tribe is actually making Everyone is stunned, but the to ignore and hide from the him. It tells him to leave and go the beast more powerful. meeting continues. Simon beast. back to the others. He stares suggests they climb the at the pig's head, at the Lord of 4 mountain. Piggy considers the 2 3 4 the Flies, and seems to suggestion insane. He says recognize it. they should just build a signal Jack emerges from the forest The purpose of fire has changed fire on the beach. into Ralph's camp. As his from rescue to cooking for The boys build the fire and the A turning point: publicly the followers steal fire from the survival. littleuns dance and sing. After biguns are unwilling to oppose signal fire, he invites Ralph's the fire, Ralph realizes that all civilization, but privately they group to come his feast, then 2 3 the biguns but Samneric and choose Jack, the beast, and disappears. Piggy have disappeared. Most savagery. Simon is on the verge of having The beast links itself to "fun" have gone to join Jack. 1 2 3 5 a fit in the forest. The pig's (savagery) and confirms it xistse head, the Lord of the Flies, within men. The beast's threat is Simon has wandered alone Like other religious mystics, speaks to him: "I'm the Beast … surprising: it says Piggy and into the forest. He enters a Simon fasts and meditates. You knew, didn't you? I'm part Ralph will act with Jack and his secret glade and sits there in of you?" As Simon descends tribe to kill Simon. The beast 4 the sun. Though he gets into a faint, the Lord of the claims both civilization and thirstier and thirstier, he Flies says, "We are going to savagery as allies against Simon's continues to sit. have fun on this island!" The spiritual truth. beast warns Simon that if he Elsewhere in the jungle, Jack Jack now treats the beast like a 1 2 3 4 declares himself chief of the god. The other boys' fear of the tries to interfere Jack, Roger, boys who have joined him. As beast increases their loyalty to Maurice, Robert, Bill, Piggy, chief, he says he's going to get Jack. Savage chiefs both fear the and Ralph will "do" him. more "biguns away from the beast and use it to gain power. CHAPTER 9 conch." He also says that when his tribe hunts they'll leave 3 Simon wakes as a storm Simon goes to the mountaintop, some of the kill for the beast. gathers over the island. He a symbolic journey, and learns That way, it won't bother them. climbs the mountain even the truth. Like other religious Jack leads the boys into the though he's staggering with figures, Simon then seeks to forest. exhaustion. He sees the spread his enlightenment to "beast" and realizes that it's others. The boys track, corner, and kill Jack and his tribe decide to just a dead parachutist. He a big sow (a female pig). Jack attack Ralph's civilization. Their untangles the cords holding 4 cuts off its head. He decides offering makes clear that to them the parachutist in place, and they'll raid Ralph's camp fore the beast is now a god who heads down the mountain to fire to cook the pig, and invite demands sacrifice. tell the others. everyone to a feast. Roger, meanwhile, sharpens a stick at 3 both ends. They stake the pig head on the stick and leave it as an offering to the beast.

©2015 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com | Follow us: @litcharts | v.S.002 Page 13 The best way to study, teach, and learn about books. Meanwhile, everyone but a Piggy is betrayed by his stomach: CHAPTER 10 few littleuns and Ralph and he wants meat. But Piggy tries to The next morning, Piggy and The "civilized" boys can't admit Piggy have gone to Jack's hide his savage desire for food by Ralph discover that every their part in Simon's murder. feast. Ralph mocks the feast as making up "civilized" excuses for bigun except them and Civilization exists to suppress a bunch of boys "pretending" attending the feast. Samneric has joined Jack's and hide from the savage to act like a tribe. But the lure tribe. Ralph tells Piggy that the instincts, the "beast" within, that of food proves too much for 2 3 5 "beast" that came out of the made them kill. Piggy, who suggests they go to forest was Simon, and that the feast "to make sure they murdered him. Piggy 2 nothing happens." screams that it was an Jack acts like a savage chief at The boys have traded freedom accident. When Samneric the feast. His face is painted for the security of an all-powerful show up, all four boys pretend and he wears a crown of ruler. they left the feast early, before leaves. Jack commands and the the dance. other boys obey him. 1 5 Jack moves his tribe to Castle Jack claims Simon was the Beast, When Ralph arrives, Jack asks Jack claims to be beyond the Rock. He orders his savages to but denies they actually killed it. the gathered boys who will join conch's (civilization's) reach. He's post a guard and beat anyone If they'd killed the beast, why his tribe. Ralph says that he's become a savage. who disobeys or displeases would the tribe need him to be still chief and has the conch, him. Jack says that the thing chief? but Jack says the conch has no 2 3 that crawled out of the forest authority on this side of the the previous night was the 3 5 island. beast. But he says that they It starts to rain, and Ralph Civilization creates security by didn't kill it, because it's laughs that Jack's tribe had no building protective shelters. impossible for them to ever kill foresight to build shelters. In Savages do the same by forming it. response, Jack whips the mobs that allow individuals to Jack says they'll go hunting The "civilized" boys stop trying to group into "their dance." They forget their fears. Both strategies tomorrow and have a feast. To keep the signal fire burning at form a chanting circle: "Kill the involve hiding from fear, from the cook the meat, they'll raid night: a symbolic surrender to beast! Cut his throat!" Roger beast within. Ralph's group for Piggy's savagery. The savages, pretends to be a pig at the glasses. Meanwhile, Ralph, meanwhile, are willing to give up 1 2 3 center of the circle, but Piggy, and Samneric discover the chance at rescue completely eventually stops. Even Ralph four people aren't enough to to get the technology of Piggy's and Piggy press forward. The keep the fire going. They glasses to build cooking fires. circle of boys becomes a decide to keep it burning only frenzied mob. during the day. That night, Jack 2 3 Suddenly, Simon staggers from The Lord of the Flies' prediction and his hunters attack while the forest, shouting the news comes true: all the boys murder everyone is asleep. Ralph and about the dead parachutist. In Simon. Like Jesus Christ, he was Eric beat each other up, and their frenzied dance, though, killed while trying to deliver the Piggy protects the conch, while Jack steals Piggy's glasses. the other boys think that he's spiritual truth. the beast. They surround him, and beat and claw him to 1 2 3 4 5 death. The rain pours down. Wind lifts the parachutist and sails it toward the boys, who run screaming. Simon's body washes out to sea.

©2015 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com | Follow us: @litcharts | v.S.002 Page 14 The best way to study, teach, and learn about books. CHAPTER 11 Roger pushes a boulder from Roger leaps into savager, the fort. Ralph dives out of the destroying Intelligence and Law, Though only Piggy, Ralph, and Piggy literally holds on to way, but Piggy can't see in the form of Piggy and the Samneric remain in their civilization (the conch). His without his glasses: the conch. Only Ralph, symbol of group, Piggy tells Ralph to civilized argument based on boulder hits him head on, and government, remains. blow the conch to call an "what's right" ignores the savage the conch explodes. The assembly. He does. They rule of dominance by the strong. boulder pushes Piggy over the 2 3 decide to go to Castle Rock. cliff onto the rocks below. Piggy plans to ask Jack to give 2 3 5 Blood leaks from his head, and back his glasses because a wave pulls his dead body into "what's right's right." Ralph, the sea. Sam, and Eric decide to carry spears, but Piggy insists on Stunned silence descends over Jack also breaks completely free holding only the conch. the tribe. But suddenly Jack from civilization, and takes the screams and throws his spear rest of his tribe with him. At Castle Rock, Ralph blows Civilization still has a hold on at Ralph, aiming to kill. Ralph the conch. Roger throws a Roger. runs into the jungle, dodging as 3 rock, though he purposely more boys throw their spears misses the twins and the other 2 3 at him. savages remain quiet. The tribe brings Samneric into Jack loves power, but Roger loves Jack appears from the forest Civilization confronts savagery the fort. Jack prods them with causing pain. Remember when behind Ralph's group, followed head on, but not completely: the his spear to terrorize them he threw rocks at the littleun? by hunters carrying a pig on a boys aren't really trying to kill into joining his tribe. Roger Now he can torture for real. spit. Ralph calls Jack a thief. each other…yet. brushes past Jack, making it Jack attacks him. The two boys clear that he knows how to 3 5 fight, but only with the sides of 2 3 inflict torture. the spears, and soon wear themselves out. CHAPTER 12 Ralph demands that Jack Ralph emphasizes the Ralph spies on Castle Rock Jack must destroy Ralph for return Piggy's glasses. He importance of rescue, but Jack from a hiding place in the savagery to prevail over mentions again the importance and his group no longer care forest. He thinks the boys have civilization. of the signal fire. Jack's tribe about rescue. They simply obey become savages and knows has only a cooking fire, he Jack. Jack will try to kill him. 2 3 5 points out. In response, Jack In the jungle, Ralph comes The Lord of the Flies is a hollow orders his hunters to surround 2 3 upon the skull of a pig hung on skull: its true power exists within and tie up Samneric. He says a spear staked into the ground. men. to Ralph, "See? They do what I He punches it and the skull want." splits. 1 Ralph and Jack start to fight Piggy makes one last appeal for Ralph returns to spy on Castle The sharpened stick recalls the again, but Piggy asks to speak civilization over savagery. Rock. Samneric are guarding stick on which Jack's tribe staked and Ralph relents. Piggy raises the gates. He sneaks up to the pig head. The tribe plans to the conch and once more calls 2 them. Frightened of Jack and hunt Ralph, the last symbol of them all kids, and argues that Roger, Samneric beg Ralph to civilization, like a pig and stake it's better to be sensible than leave. But first they give him his head as an offering to the savage. meat and tell him the tribe will beast. hunt him tomorrow. Roger, they say, has sharpened a stick 3 at both ends. Ralph doesn't understand what this means.

Ralph tells Samneric he's Ralph still trusts Samneric as The officer asks if they're The British pride themselves on going to hide in a nearby friends, as rational civilized having a war, and jokingly asks being civilized. But Ralph cries thicket so they can misdirect people. if they've had any casualties. because he's learned first hand the tribe. As he runs off, he He's stunned when Ralph says just how fragile civilization is. hears Samneric arguing with 2 two. The officer says he would someone. have expected more from 1 2 3 British boys. Ralph begins to The next morning Ralph hides As a civilized person, Ralph can't cry, thinking of Piggy. All of the in the thicket. But it's soon understand the power of torture. other boys begin to cry as well. surrounded: Samneric have been tortured into revealing 3 5 The officer, uncomfortable at Hypocritical civilization: the Ralph's location. this outpouring of emotion, officer prefers his warship turns to look at the more (savagery) to facing human The tribe first rolls boulders at Technology and fire, formerly comforting sight of his warship emotion. the thicket and then tries to symbols of civilization, have anchored out at sea. storm it. They can't get in, so become tools of savagery, used to 1 2 3 they set the thicket on fire. kill. Ralph breaks from the thicket and runs into the jungle. The 3 HOW TO CITE tribe follows, spreading out behind to search for him. It's easy to cite LitCharts for use in academic papers and reports. As the jungle burns, the tribe Hunted by the tribe like an chases Ralph from hiding place animal, Ralph becomes an to hiding place. He has no time animal. MLA CITATION to think or plan: he can only Ben Florman and Justin Kestler, LitCharts Editors. 3 run or hide or attack. "LitChart on Lord of the Flies." LitCharts.com. 16 Nov The tribe slowly surrounds The fire the savages use to try to 2015. him, until Ralph is forced onto kill Ralph accomplishes what the the open beach, where he'll signal fire couldn't—it attracts a CHICAGO MANUAL CITATION surely be killed. But in front of rescue ship from civilization. him stands an officer of the Ben Florman and Justin Kestler, LitCharts Editors. British Navy. The smoke from 2 3 "LitChart on Lord of the Flies." LitCharts.com. 2015. the burning jungle caught the http://www.litcharts.com/lit/lord-of-the-flies. ship's attention. The savages trickle out of the With civilization restored, Ralph APA CITATION forest behind Ralph. The regains leadership. Percival's Ben Florman and Justin Kestler, LitCharts Editors officer asks who's in charge. failure to recall his name shows 2015. LitChart on Lord of the Flies. Retrieved Ralph says he is. Jack is quiet. the depth of the boys' savagery. Percival Wemys Madison November 16, 2015 from http://www.litcharts.com/lit/ tries and fails to say his own 2 3 5 lord-of-the-flies. name.