Chapter 9: A View to a Death
A violent storm is raging on the island, while Simon finally wakes up from his faint. He staggers towards the beach to tell the other boys about his ordeal. Piggy and Ralph already decided to check out the roasting of the Pig, where Jack then asks everyone to confirm their loyalty to him. Ralph tries to persuade them to follow himself and keep the fire alive, but most of the boys are already overcome by Jack's leadership and ability to tell them what they want to hear.
Insistent, Ralph tries to talk some sense into them, asking them what they will do without shelters. Jack just orders the boys to begin their dance, oblivious to any dangers. Roger plays the pig, and as the boys begin dancing, even Piggy and Ralph feel the strong lure to be part of the group, take part in this primal ritual. As before, the dance escalates into real attacking, but they are distracted by a figure emerging from the jungle. They call out that "it's the Beast!" and begin to attack it relentlessly. The beaten and dead body of Simon is then carried out to the sea by the current.
Significance: The beating of Simon by all the boys, even Ralph and Piggy who were caught up in the frenzy, fulfills the Lord of the Flies' "prophecy." Even these boys were overcome with their savage side when in such close contact with all the other boys.
Chapter 10: The Shell and the Glasses
Samneric are collecting wood for the fire, while Ralph and Piggy discuss the murder of Simon; the rest of the boys pledge their loyalty to Jack. Piggy claims that the whole affair was an accident, and that they just got all caught up.
Jack meanwhile is guarding his fort on Castle Rock, where Roger is always ready to use a lever to drop a boulder on intruders. Jack has a boy tied up and beaten, for no reason except to show what happens if anyone gets in his way. His savagery is obvious now, and his face is always painted.
Ralph is still pondering over watching the fire, and he always has to be reminded that the fire is a necessity. Ralph tries to reassure the twins that what they are doing is right, and Jack is wrong, in response to their protests. They finally concede to leave the fire and go to their shelters. They are woken up by unusual sounds, and fear it may be the Beast, but it turns out to be Jack and tribe searching for fire. They break into the shelter and begin to fight for Piggy's glasses, cutting and knocking teeth loose in the process.
Significance: The murder of Simon is somewhat of a wake-up call for Ralph, who doesn't accept that it was just an accident. The constant need to be reminded about the fire, though, shows that he is losing touch with civilization, and responsibility. Roger being ready with the massive boulder foreshadows some future use for it, undoubtedly to cause harm. The stealing of Piggy's glasses shows a disappearance of a symbol of order and clear-sightedness, as they unwillingly drift from civilization.
Chapter 11: Castle Rock
Ralph calls an assembly in worry, and Piggy, the twins and a few littl'uns are the only ones left to attend. Ralph suggests to the bruised boys that they may be able to go to Jack and demand the specs back, since they are not savages and rescue is not just a game. Ralph and Samneric set off carrying spears, leading Piggy holding the conch.
At Castle Rock, Roger orders the boys to halt, but Ralph blows the conch. Ralph tells them he is calling an assembly, and Jack steps forward. He laughs at their request to return the specs, and a fight ensues. Jack then orders his tribe to grab Samneric, and tie them up. Suddenly, interrupting the fighting, Piggy speaks up, asking everyone if it is better to have rules and agree, or to hunt and kill. Everyone remains silent and hears his message. As Piggy continues his preaching of democracy, Roger slams the lever holding the boulder and it goes careening down. Ralph dodges the rock, but the unseeing Piggy is struck, sending him flying 40 feet straight down and shattering the conch. Even Jack is a bit surprised with Roger's quick and brutal action, but he assures Ralph that it will happen to him next. Ralph begins to run away, and the tribe eventually gives up pursuit under Jack's order.
Significance: Piggy's willingness to come along for what he believes is right, and his standing up and speaking out shows that he has gained greater courage and confidence since the beginning of the novel. His tragic death and the shattering of the conch represents the disappearance of some of the last remnants of democracy. With Samneric taken under Jack's control, Ralph is the only one left with the waning sense of democracy and goodness.
Chapter 12: Cry of the Hunters
Ralph is huddled in the jungle near Castle Rock, as dusk passes. Samneric, who are guarding Castle Rock under Jack's leadership, are approached by Ralph. They inform him that Jack's tribe will be out hunting him the next day, and they have "sharpened a stick at both ends." Ralph tells Samneric of his hiding spot, and proceeds back to it. Scared by Jack's power, Samneric tell Jack about Ralph's hiding spot the next morning. Another boulder is rolled down, but misses smashing Ralph. Other attempts of getting Ralph from his hiding spot are unsuccessful, so they set the entire area on fire in desperation.
Ralph begins to run from the advancing fire, making his way to Simon's mat of creepers where he hides and lays low. The savages advance with the fire, searching, hunting for Ralph. They finally reach Ralph's hiding spot, and Roger looks in. Ralph attacks him, knocking him over, and continued running to the beach. Running wildly, he almost crashed into a Naval officer standing at the beach, who was attracted by all the fire and smoke. He assumes that their stay on the island must've been all "fun and games," but is surprised at the spears and face paint on many of the boys. Some are crying, many are confused. The officer is told that two boys were killed, and everyone is taken to a Navy cruiser.
Significance: The "stick sharpened at both ends" is a reference to what they did with the Lord of the Flies, impaling one end in the head and the other in the ground. This shows the brutality of what they planned to do to Ralph, who indeed felt like a pig being hunted by the savages. The fire set on the entire island shows the tribe's complete lack of foresight, as if they were not rescued, they would have no food or shelter. Ironically, the fire meant for evil started by Jack turned out to be what got the boys saved. The arrival of the Naval officer thus seems like a happy and ironic ending, but if one digs deeper it is just a continuation from one war to another. Once all the boys get on the Navy cruiser, they'll most likely just be subjected to more battle and fighting, this time on a worldwide level, due to the war taking place in the outside world.
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