Development of the Conch

Development of the Conch Chapters 1- 4
Chapter 1
In chapter 1, Ralph and Piggy find the conch-shell in a really bushy place which was hard to get to but Ralph with the help of Piggy got the conch and this was the first magic the conch did that forced Piggy and Ralph to work together as a team. It was amazing how the conch is naturally decorated. Piggy and Ralph name it the conch from the Piggy friend's pet shell while Piggy was telling Ralph about his friend's conch. With the blow of the conch the whole group of boys came together that was the second magic that conch did to put everyone into other's responsibility." the conch was silent, a gleaming tusk; Ralph face was dark with breathlessness and the air over the island was full of bird-clamour and echoes ringing".
In chapter 2, The conch made the deciding for the leader much easier because the boys believed that Ralph is the one that brought everyone together and he is the only one that could blow the conch out the whole group. Then, The rule that if anyone needs to speak they have to hold the conch and then talk became of the important rules that the boys make. The conch gave the little ones the chance to speak so that everyone could listen to them otherwise no one could have with the older boys talking over them. With the rise of the conch the crowd becomes silent and it is one of the other magic trick that the conch seems to do to the boys. "And another thing. We can't have everybody talking at once. We'll have to have 'hands up' like at school.' He held the conch before his face and glanced round the mouth. 'Then I'll give him the conch.' "-page 31
-Jasveen

Chapter 2
In Chapter 1, the reader is introduced to the conch which is the first thing that brings all the boys together after the crash,however, it is in Chapter 2 where one can see the significance and power of the conch on the island. The conch starts helping Ralph ( the leader) gather people's ideas and opinions through a form of a meeting or an "assembly". The shell effectively governs the boys' assembly and is seen more as a symbol which represents order and power. Also,Ralph asserts his authority and makes rules using the conch. (P.31)" We can't have everybody talking at once. We'll have to have 'Hands up' like at school."Here, the first rule was made on the island which clearly shows the significance of the shell which is making a system. The conch now represents order because it is the only item on the island that can unite them and keep them civilzed. The rules made by Ralph continue throughout the chapter, ( P.42) " We ought to have more rules. Where the conch is, that's a meeting. The same here as down there." The conch has more power at this point and is used again as a symbol. The reader can also see that Ralph, the twelve-year old is now turning into a grown leader.At this point of the book the conch is by far the most important symbol! I just hope it stays as important and as effective throughout the novel!:)
-Amira M

Development of the Conch Chapters 3 & 4

In chapter 3, the boys don’t hold a meeting, so the conch isn’t used at all. It is mentioned though, when Ralph is talking to Jack about how at the meetings, everybody says they’re going to help and contribute to their plans, but then as soon as the meeting’s done they never follow through. So Ralph is starting to re-think the whole way their meetings are run, which of course, involves the conch. On page 64 Ralph says “I bet if I blew the conch this very minute, they’d come running. Then we’d be, you know, very solemn, and someone would say we ought to build a jet, or a submarine, or a TV set. When the meeting was over they’d work for five minuets then wander off or go hunting.”

By the end of chapter four, after the whole disaster with the fire going out has occurred, the conch is further developed as Ralph really begins to think about changing the way their meetings are run. On the last page of the chapter, Ralph decides they need to have a meeting right away, and you really get the feeling that he is going to use the power that he feels the conch gives him, because of how angry he is. You realize that the boys are not getting along, and since Jack killed the pig for them all, many of the boys, especially the choir boys respect him more than they used to. On page 90 it says “The buzz from the hunters was one of admiration at this handsome behaviour. Clearly they were of the opinion that Jack had done the decent thing.” Now it seems that the conch is the only thing that they really have a loyalty to since some are starting to drift away from Ralph as a leader, because the conch was the thing that brought them all together. So I think Ralph realizes by the end of the chapter that he needs to hold onto the conch very closely or he might be overthrown. “With the conch. I’m calling a meeting even if we have to go on into the dark. Down on the platform. When I blow it. Now.” –page 94.

-Christina