Jack's Character Development

Through out the chapters one to four, Jack has stood out the most with his varying characteristics. In chapter 1, he was shown as a selfish tall boy who likes to order people around like his choir. He wanted to be the leader of 'The Littluns' so he can control the whole island by himself but he was outvoted when the boys selected Ralph as a leader. Then, he felt ashamed that he is the only one who is the choir leader and being the choir leader is the greatest that no one can resist. When Ralph proudly honored him to the leader of the choir and gave him the job for hunting, he felt much better. He respected Ralph's orders and is very obedient at following the instructions.
In chapter 2, he becomes more and more careful and responsible when he tells everyone about the island that it has pigs they can hunt and use them as food. He feels sorry for not killing the pig while he was exploring so he tells everyone that he will kill and bring meat to them next time. He gave the Littluns hope that they can survive here and can get rescued by the grown-ups.
In chapter 3, he becomes more clever and aware of catching the pigs and how to find the herds. When he intelligently feels the warmth of the dropping and stay quite but he still remains intimidated to Piggy.
In chapter 4, he figures out how to paint the faces and Camouflage with green forest. He becomes more softer and becomes to feel apologized when says sorry to Ralph for letting the fire out but still again he feels no emotions towards Piggy when slammed his head and broke his glasses. Maybe he will change and will become the most outstanding character of the book. Maybe through the book he will become friendly to Piggy and finally maybe stop bulling him at the end.

Chapter 1:
"I ought to be chief,' said Jack with simple arrogance, ' because I'm chapter chorister and head boy. I can sing C sharp.' -page 18 'Jack is in charge of the choir. They can be-what do you want them to be?' 'Hunters' Jack and Ralph smiled at each other with shy liking. The rest began to talk eagerly."-page 20

Chapter 2:
"This is our island. Until the grown-ups come to fetch us we'll have fun.' 'There's pigs,' he said 'There's food; and bathing-water in that little stream along there-and everything. Didn't anyone find anything else?' " -page 33

Chapter 3:
"The dropping were warm. They lay piled among turned earth. They were olive green, smooth, and they steamed a little. Jack lifted his head and stared at the inscrutable masses of creeper that lay across the trail... -the promise of meat..."-page 49

Chapter 4:
" Jack planned his new face. He made one cheek and one eye-socket white, then rubbed red over the other half of his face and slashed a black bar of charcoal across form right ear to left jaw." -page 66 "Ralph made a step forward and Jack smacked Piggy's head. Piggy's glasses flew off and tinkled on the rock. Piggy cried out in terror: 'My specs!' "-page 75
-Jasveen

Ralph's Character Development

After finishing the first 4 chapters, the character that stood out the most for me was Ralph since he was well developed.

In the first chapter, Ralph was introduced as a fair, courageous boy whose self-assure made him feel secure on being alone on the island with any adults. Ralph is also seen as an innocent boy and this is implied when he says that his father- a commander in the Navy- will come and rescue them. This shows how he does not have the ability to view serious matters like his situation.

He shows simplistic thinking and acts as though he is t at a school’s playground or in the park teasing Piggy. This is seen when he calls Piggy a fat bore with “ass-mar” and “matter-of-fact ideas”; this once again shows his scale of maturation. He is very charismatic, which might be the main reason for him gaining the position of a chief who lays down rules and tries to organize a society. This is clearly proven at the first meeting held where he shows that he can make order; his maturity increases.

By chapter 3, Ralph begins to change as he starts appreciating Piggy more and appraises what he says according to how practical he is. The boy that enjoyed the absence of adults on the island changes because he realizes that they must be rescued before the boys turn savage! He starts wishing for help: ‘If only they can send us something grown up…a sign or something’.

In chapter 4, Ralph continues to act responsibly. Is it possible that Piggy is starting to influence him? When he finds out that there was a ship that could have saved them if the fire was lit, he is not pleased with Jack since he was the one in charge of maintaining the fire. He wants a society and repeatedly tells the group how the rules need to be followed and not just said!

Chapter 1

(Pg.23-24""Listen everybody. I've got to have time to think things out. I can't decide what to do straight off. If this isn't an island, we might be rescued straight away. So we've got to decide if this is an island or not. Everybody must stay around here and wait and not go away. Three of us-if we take more, we'd get all mixed, and lose each other-three \...." Ralph changes drastically in this speech; he wastes no time and shows self-control by not jumping into conclusions and by wanting "time to think things out." Therefore, this is when Ralph is first introduced as a cautious boy to the reader.

Chapter 2

(Pg.37) "There's another thing. We can help them to find us. If a ship comes near the island they may not notice us. So, we must make smoke on top of the mountain. We must make a fire." Ralph is not the perfect leader, however this reference shows that he can easily be a responsible one. Here, he clearly demonstrates the need for civilization by the tasks that he orders to be done. He suggests that a fire can be made so that it could help a passing ship locate them . . One can see through this and know that unlike the other boys who care to hunt, swim, play on the beach, Ralph is now intent on getting rescued. He wants them to survive by building shelters, holding meetings and getting them rescued! Everything he wants done is for them to either live on the island safely, as shown by the shelters, and or get rescued.

Chapter 3

(P.51)“Meetings. Don’t we love meetings?...I bet if I blew the conch this 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 metting was over they'd go working for five minutes than wandr off or go hunting. ” Ralph is confused by the assemblies’ lack of efficacy. He had been counting on the meetings to provide unity and hope but has found that, of a crowd, only a few actually follow through. Ralph's vision of hope is evident here; he does not enjoy building huts any better than the others, but controls his actions to do what is necessary to survive!

Chapter 4

(P.74)" There was a ship..You said you'd keep the fire going and you let it out! ... Thye might have seen us. We might have gone home-" After Ralph discovers that a ship passed while the fire was out, he takes out his confronts Jack. Here Ralph is becoming less gregarious and a bit more serious. He acts more maturally and more like the leader he was elected to be. Ralph finally realizes the importance of getting saved and turns his anger on Jack who did not act civilized and responsible!

One thing I am still unsure about is Ralph’s feelings toward Piggy. At first he seems to pick on Piggy but later seems to start listening to him. When the group of boys leave to start the fire and leave Piggy baby-sitting is this because they know and respect his intelligence or is it because they do not want to be involved with him?

I can’t wait to continue reading… Ralph is an amazing character!...Do you think that his personality and his way of thinking might result in him losing his leadership?

-Amira M

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

Character Development of Simon

I think Simon's my favourite character so far, just because from what I've read he seems a lot nicer and smarter than the other boys (excluding Piggy of course, he seems nice and smart too).

When we first meet Simon he stands out from all the other choir boys he's standing with, I thought he appeared weaker than them because he fainted. Granted, it was hot and he had been through a lot, but so had all the other boys and they weren't fainting. I thought that that might be the last we really hear of Simon, seeing as he didn't really strike me as an important character. But when Ralph and Jack decide to go exploring the island, Ralph choses Simon to come with them, so suddenly he's more important after all.

Simon isn't in very much of chapter 2, other than when he and Jack are telling the group about what they learned about the island. He also stands up for Piggy when Jack accuses Piggy of critisizing the fire without having helped at all. But this shows how he is much more important now than he was when he was first introduced to us. He has already gone from just being the boy who fainted to someone who all the other boys wants to hear what he has to say.

Then chapter 3 was all about Simon! We see him to be a hard and dedicated worker when he is helping Ralph build the huts even when all the other boys are just lazing around, swimming or doing things for themselves. This is when he goes from just being another boy who Ralph picked randomly to help, to someone seems to have Ralph's respect. I think that Ralph would take things that Simon says seriously now because he seems to trust him. When Simon goes off all by himself, we see a part of him we haven't seen before. We see a more secretive part of him, he leaves helping Ralph to go and sit in the hollow tree by himself. Yet we don't learn why he suddenly leaves.

And in chapter 4, simon proves to be a good friend. He runs with Ralph when they see that the fire has gone out and the ship has gone to share Ralph's disapointment. Then he proves to be a good friend to Piggy dispite how the other boys treat him. The boys could have easily turned against him when he saved what was left of Piggy's glasses and when he gave Piggy his own meat when he thought that Jack wasn't going to give him any. Yet he risked being excluded to be a good friend to Piggy, what a nice guy!
Examples:

Chapter One: On page 32, we see Simon go from a fairly unimportant character, to one who is favoured by Ralph, the chief. "Now that the pallor of his faint was over, he was a skinny, vivid litte boy, with a glance coming up from under a hut of straight hair that hung down, black and coarse. He nodded at Ralph. 'I'll come'"

Chapter Two: "'If I say anything,' cried Piggy, with bitter realism, 'you say shut up; but if Jack or Maurice or Simon-'" -page 56. This shows that now Simon is considered to be one of the important friends of Ralph, someone who Ralph will take what he says seriously.

Chapter 3: "'Simon. He helps.' He pointed at the shelters. 'All the rest rushed off. He's done as much as I have'" pg 69. This shows that not only does Ralph see Simon as a friend, but also as a hard worker. Which makes him appreciate him more, especially when nobody else on the island is doing any work at all.

Chapter 4: "Simon, sitting between the twins and Piggy, wiped his mouth and shoved his piece of meat over the rocks to Piggy, who grabbed it. The twins giggled and Simon lowered his face in shame." -pg 92. This shows that Simon is kind enough to be nice to Piggy, even when he knows that the other boys will prbably disaprove of it and could easily decide to alienate him along with Piggy.

So that's what we know about Simon so far, I hope he doesn't completely change later on in the book and turn mean or something! So far, he seems to be the nicest boy there, I think they others need him around to set a good example for them. They could learn a lesson or two from him!

-Christina S.

Roger is a Human Beast!!

I just found a picture which shows Roger and Maurice destroying the sand castles!

How heartless can humans be sometimes?

-Amira M

A nice touch!

Hey guys!

I am really liking this blog! and i thought...what could make it better other than the pretty faces of Simon and Piggy!

Christina.. this is my gift to you my friend!

-Simon

And of course i would never forget Jasveen...

-Piggy

Chapter Summary

Chapter 4 : "Painted Faces and Long Hair"

Similar to the previous ones, chapter four focuses on a day in the island for the stranded boys. The hostility between Jack and Ralph has not deflated and the visions of the monster increase. The littuns have frequent nightmares where they see monsters in the jungle that are preying on them.

Also, two bullies are well-introduced in this chapter by their actions: Roger and Maurice. These are older boys that bully and destroy the younger boys’ castles and then laugh with pleasure.

Jack who was seen as unsuccessful in his previous attempts at hunting takes his skills to a higher level and decides to paint himself to aid in his hunting. He thinks that if he can be sly then the pigs would not run away like the other times so he uses clay and charcoal to form a camouflage.

Ralph and Piggy who are by the lagoon spot a ship on the horizon but it does not seem to notice them because the fire has gone out. They run to the top of the mountain but the ship had already left!

The incident with the fire gone out makes Ralph furious again because it is Jack and the hunters responsibility to keep the fire lit. Once he finds Jack, his anger somewhat punctures because Jack had finally hunted a pig!

The hunters at this point are very happy with their accomplishments and start a feast. Piggy, however, thinks they are acting immaturely and ridicules them. Angered by this, Jack turns violent and breaks a lens of Piggy’s glasses. The hunters eat the pig and do not seem to see how their leader’s shortsightedness and selfishness cost them a rescue, although it did bring them a nice meal!

-Amira M

Passage Descriptions

Chapter 1: The Sound of the Shell

"Ralph took the shell from piggy and a little water ran down his arm. In colour the shell was deep cream, touched here and there with fading pink. Between the point, worn away into a little hole, and the pink lips of the mouth, lay eighteen inches of the shell with a slight spiral twist and covered with a delicate, embossed pattern. Ralph shook d out of the deep tube. "--moo-ed like a cow,' he said 'he had some white stones too, an' a bird cage with a green parrot. He didn't blow the white stones, of course, an' he said--' "
-pg: 11 paragraph 6, Lord of the Flies.

This passage is very interesting because of how Golding William describes each and every bit of the details in the scene that is taking place. This passage also creates the imagery of sight, touch and hearing which emphasizes a detailed image into a reader's mind. These details can help the readers to understand the specific scene better.

The colour of the shell is described very briefly as "pink and creamy colour here and there" it is the imagery of sight. The distance of the pink mouth of the shell that lay eighteen inches is measured and is a detail that can create the picture of the size of the shell. The description of the bulging pattern on the shell creates an imagery of touch. This passage is the one that illustrates the conch really well, which later becomes an important part of the assembly gathering of the boys.
When Piggy explains the sound of the shell " mooed like a cow" creates a imagery of hearing. These are the interesting, deep details found in this small paragraph that describe a lot of a scene.

Chapter 2: Fire on the Mountain

“Nobody knows where we are’ said piggy. He was paler than before and breathless. ‘Perhaps they knew where we was going to; and perhaps not. But they don’t know where we are ‘cos we never got there.’ He gasped at them for a moment, then swayed and sat down. Ralph took the conch from his hands.”
-page 32 paragraph 4, Lord of the Flies

This passage creates a humorous scene towards Piggy because he acts really confused and Piggy does not know if anyone will come there to rescue them. The way the author has written the words to describe his accent and the grammar errors ‘we was’ make Piggy even more hilarious. The way he sits down staring at the other’s faces, the way he becomes pale and breathless describes his droll character.

Here he is trying to calm everyone down but on the other hand he can’t bare to tell them the truth that has more possibility to happen which is, that no one might come there to rescue them. Ralph appears to be mean character regarding Piggy because he just take the conch away from his hands and Piggy’s reaction towards this very calm.

Chapter 3: Huts on the Beach

“Meetings. Don’t we love meetings? Every day. Twice a day. We talk.’ He got on one elbow. ‘I bet if I blew the conch this 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 minutes the wander off or go hunting.”
-page 51 paragraph 5, Lord of the Flies

This passage is very emotive because the way Ralph is describing the needs of the Littluns (the boys) for example T.V, jet to fly to their parents and their homes so they can go and live their lives again instead of waiting and hunting and just doing nothing on this island. This is very pitiful that no one is there to take care of these little boys.

Ralph and Simon need help towards the building of their shelters because they do not know how long they will live there for. Ralph is saying that everyone is just busy playing and relaxing and no one knows what will happen to them. They are just too careless to think about the chances of being rescued, which are nil at this moment. Jack always goes wander and hunt nothing and he actually likes this job whereas Ralph does not. So now, he is experiencing the responsibility that he has to take care as a leader.
-Jasveen

Chapter Summaries

Chapter 1: The Sound of the Shell

The opening chapter begins with two boys, Piggy and Ralph, making their way through an island. The reader is introduced to the main characters and the problems they face.
Ralph, a fair-haired boy encounters another boy named Piggy at a lagoon on a beach. The boys’ dialogue tells the reader that they have been shot down over an ocean in an inhabited tropical island.

Unable to find any adults, the two share mix feelings. Ralph does not mind not being under adult supervision, whereas Piggy is terrified that there are no adults in charge. Ralph says that his father is a commander in the navy and that he does not worry about staying on the island for a while. He does not feel anxiety; his father will come to rescue them when he can. Piggy seems paranoid and wimpy and does not think that is the best way to get off the island. The two, continue their conversation with a walk on the beach. This is when Piggy notices a conch and suggests that Ralph uses it to call everyone. His suggestion works and soon, one by one, the different children-also survivors of a plane crash- appear on the beach.

The first boy to arrive is Johnny who is only six years old. Following him arrive a pair of identical twins, Sam and Eric and soon a large group of young choirboys arrive with their leader, Jack. Once everyone arrived, the large groups decide to elect a leader to hold meetings and keep things under control. Of course, the choirboys elect Jack while the rest of the boys Ralph, making him the new leader. Jack’s cold, unwavering demeanor makes him suitable for having the duty of leading the choir, who become hunters. Simon, a member of the choir and the two leaders venture and explore the island. On their way back to the beach after the venturous adventure, they discover a pig, however hesitate to kill him. The pig runs away and the boys come back to the beach.
-Amira M
Chapter 2: Fire on the Mountain

When the three return, Ralph calls for another meeting using the conch shell. At this point of the story, every one respects this symbol and view it as authority. Ralph wants the group to organize themselves and so the conch is a symbol of authority, where the person holding it in his hands is listened to. Jack regrets not having killed the pig and agrees that hunters will be needed to kill animals.

One again, Piggy reminds the crowd that no one knows where they are and that they could be stuck on the deserted island for a while. This scares the little boys and one of them says that he had seen a monster the night before. Ralph tries to reassure the boys that there is no beast and proposes that they should start a fire on top of a mountain, so that any one passing by the island would know someone is trapped and needs rescue.

A group of boys rush to the top of the mountain and use the lenses from Piggy’s glasses to focus the sunlight and start the fire. Although, they manage to start the fire, it soon goes off and they return to the beach. Upon their arrival, they discover that the boy -who talked about seeing a monster-is missing. Terrified and shocked, Ralph first blames Piggy for not keeping good track of the little ones and later tells the others that there is a chance that the boy had not died. The group is not convinced, face the reality and pretend as though nothing had happened.
-Amira M

Chapter 3: Huts on the Beach

The chapter begins many days after the fire on the mountain.

Jack tries to hunt pigs; however his spear drives the pigs away. Frustrated, he returns to the beach where he finds the rests of the boys building huts. According to Ralph, the “littleuns”- the young boys- are not working hard but instead spend their time playing around. This frustrates him because the huts are essential for surviving on the island. He feels that the boys agree to few minutes of work but then wander off playing in the lagoon. Ralph tells Jack, that he and his hunters have yet to bring meat to the other members. Jack tries to defend himself by complaining on how hard it is to have control over his hunters and the two begin to argue. The two grow hostile more after the two argue about whether building huts is more important than hunting.

The two are interrupted by Simon who reminds them about the monster that the littleuns are frightened of. According to Jack, he too feels insecure; when he is hunting, he feels as though he is, “not hunting — but being hunted... As though something is behind you all the time in the jungle. ” Ralph and Jack decide to go to lagoon for a swim regain their sense of companionship but they grow more hostile.

In the meantime. Simon wanders into the jungle, helps the littluns pick fruits and then wanders off more, finding a clearing. The little boy finds a beautiful space filled with flowers and sits down to admire the beauty of the scene. He sits there until night fall.
-Amira M

Connections to the Real World

How can a book about young boys stuck on an island have anything to do with modern society?

Well, the struggle for power between the boys when they are trying to decide who is going to be their leader is something we can see in modern politics. Both Ralph and Jack would like to be the "chief" so they decide to take a vote. When Ralph wins he soon discovers that running the island is not as easy as he thought, and some of the plans he has aren't working as well. I think that when most people in our society decide to run for election, they have good intentions in mind but once they actually get elected they find its difficult to achieve all the things they wanted to.

The most obvious way the novel relates to the world outside the novel is in the fact that the reason the boys ended up on the island is because there was an atomic explosion and when they were being evacuated their plane was attacked. And of course we know that there actually was an atomic explosion once.

The way the other boys treat Piggy is something that unfortunately a lot of kids can relate to, whether or not they're stuck on an island. He is excluded and treated differently because of his weight and his asthma, yet he is the nicest of them all as well as the smartest. He doesn't deserve to be treated this way, but he is for the sole reason that he's a bit different than the rest of them. I've noticed that they don't want him around, unless they decide they need him for something, which so far seems to be his common sense. I think a lot of students can relate to this, people who want you to help them with homework, or be in your group for a project but they never talk to you other than that. They only want Piggy around when they feel they can gain something from it.

In the first little while on the island, Ralph feels they should just have fun until they are rescued. He thinks all they need to do is light the fire at the top of the mountain and wait for a ship to see the smoke and come and get them. He soon realizes that this is not going to be enough to survive. Piggy is helpful in pointing out that they are going to need shelters and that they have no idea how long it will take to be rescued, this is something that I have definately experienced. Not not knowing how long it will be until I get rescued of course, but expecting something to be fun and realizing it's actually going to be a lot of work and not much fun at all. It reminds me of a saying my Dad always says "The fantasy is better than the reality". Ralph expected his fire to be lit and attract a ship, instead they burned down a huge part of the forest and ended up losing one of the boys and there's still no ship to be seen.

Finally, by chapter 3, Ralph has noticed that when they have their meetings, everybody is willing to take on a job and says they're going to help with building huts and keeping the fire going or whatever and then as soon as the meeting is done they go off and do whatever they want. I can totally understand how frustrating this must be for Ralph, I know people who are like this, no commitment! You're depending on them to do something but they keep flaking out, and they just keep promising they're going to do it next time, but yet somehow it never happens.

So that's it for the connections, I'm sure there are others, but none that I can find relate particularily to my life. Oh, well, Piggy wears glasses and so do I, does that count?

-Christina