Lord of the Flies Analysis

CHAPTER 8 : Lord of the Flies

As time goes on we see how the boys are breaking up. They are no longer united but dispersed. In this chapter we are able to see how Jack has virtually and eternally departed from Ralph’s domain. They boys have clearly divided into two groups. Here Golding employs a sort of political perspective of the situation where two governments are running side by side with each other. This chapter’s moral significance lies in the indulgence of the pig and Simon’s final realization of what life really is on the island. Golding has convincingly portrayed the effective significance of the boy’s discovery of the beast on the island. Ralph has presumable lost all power over the group and it is only a matter of time, before Jack’s primitive rise to power.

We see Piggy’s strong character being portrayed in the starting of the chapter. Golding goes on to bring out the significance of Piggy’s presence on the island and his unmistakable contribution to the good of the society. Even though Ralph is a strong representative of maturity and moral choice we see that Piggy is the closest thing on the island to an adult. We see that Piggy remains the lone skeptic unwilling to bring himself to believe that there is actually is a beast on the island. Ralph’s succumbing to fear and the acceptance of the beast in a way brings out his childish characteristics. Golding reminds us that Ralph is still susceptible to childish passions and irrationality that mark the other boys to a lesser extent. Golding’s foreshadowing message through this is that Ralph given the right circumstances can subject to the same passion and irrationality that is portrayed by Jack and his hunters.

The rising antagonism between Ralph and Jack bursts out when Ralph sarcastically remarks on the truth of Jack and his hunters. “Boys armed with sticks”. Jack ironically uses the significance of the conch to his own advantage. He calls an assembly with the conch to openly challenge Ralph for his seat for the Chief. This is strong irony with what he presumably said in the last chapter. “We don’t need the conch anymore”. Jack instigates Ralph’s pride by bringing out his cowardice. “he isn’t a proper chief”. “He is a coward himself”. As you can see here Jack is trying to expose Ralph’s inability and incompetence in front of the boys. Ralph is able to defend by exposing Jack’s absurdity and cowardice but we see Jack’s thrust to take control of the group.

“Who thinks Ralph oughtn’t to be Chief?” Jack’s subtle remark and open challenge is met by the silence of the assembly. Jack’s humiliation is unbearable but his determination is again brought out by his open offer to contradict Ralph’s contribution to the society. “I’m going off by myself. He can catch his own pigs. Anyone who wants to hunt when I do can come too”. This remark signifies Jack’s permanent departure from Ralph and his group.

Jack’s eternal departure from the group signifies a couple of things. Jack’s departure from the group even though he soon comes to take power of the group signifies his departure from civilization. His last connection to a civilized and non- violence world is diminished. He no longer is civilized and moves one step up to become a complete savage. Golding has expose Jack’s childish characteristics again. Jack regard life on the island as a game and his intimidating character indicates that if he can not set the rules of the game he is no longer going to play. As time goes on we come to know that with Jack Maurice, Roger and a couple of hunters to depart from the group. This leads to the formation of two groups. Golding brings out a political perspective of this where two governments on the island are formed. Ralph leads over one which could only represent a liberal democracy, whereas Jack presides over one which would roughly resemble a military dictatorship.

Golding again explores Simon’s moral character when he remarks on what they should do next. “I think we should climb the mountain.” Simon obviously believes that there is no precise beast or even if there it is more of an abstract image. Piggy’s sensibility is again portrayed as come up with the ingenious idea of making a fire on the shores. As the boys start their feeble attempt to start a fire on the shore we see that this situation is again juxtaposed with that of Jack and the hunter. This again brings out the striking contrast between civilization and society. Just like how it was in the fourth chapter, but a new situation has arisen. The third unique situation is of Simon and his peaceful rest in his favourite place. Now we have three situations. One representing the good of the society involving the bonding between Piggy and Ralph, one representing the evil and