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A Lord Of The Flies: Chapter Summary

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In the previous chapters we watch the majority of our characters slowly slip away from being humane and slip into being aggressive and savage. Ralph, Piggy, and Simon are the only ones who have not turned to animalistic ways of “survival”. Ralph wants to maintain composure to their own little society, and he believes that building shelters is more important than to kill for sport. Jack on the other hand becomes obsessed with killing, although he is terrified of the jungle at first, he finds it exciting, getting some sort of adrenaline high. In chapter 7, Ralph takes notice of how normalized the filth they live in is. Taking note of his own personal state as well as the unhygienic state of the others. Ralph’s authority was beginning to be questioned …show more content…

The mistreatment of the liluns is quite apparent in this chapter as well, (for example, Jack suggests that the next time they play a game of boar they get one of the liluns to act the role of the …show more content…

He is ethical and clearly on the side of order and civilization, but he is also curious by the so-called beast and feels a deep and comforting connection with the nature of the island, whereas Roger and Jack’s connection to the island’s wilderness only heightens their violent instincts and bloodlust. Overall, Simon is a pure, good, and natural character in every aspect. He remains distinctly different from Ralph and Jack, who represent two opposite ends of a spectrum between civilization and savagery. The other boys abandon all moral behavior as soon as civilization is no longer there to urge it upon them. Unlike all the other boys on the island, Simon doesn’t act morally out of guilt. He behaves kindly toward the younger children, and he is the first to realize the true meaning of the beast. Simon represents a radically different idea of essential human goodness. The Lord of the Flies becomes a physical manifestation of the beast, a symbol of the power of evil, and a Satan figure. In regard to biblical parallels, the Lord of the Flies likely represents the devil, or simply all evil. “Lord of the Flies” is a direct translation of the biblical name Beelzebub, a powerful demon in hell sometimes thought to be the devil

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430 Words | 2 Pages

He recognizes that the beast is inside of the boys and there actually isn’t a beast in real life. His personality is very different than that of the other boys. In the book he has a softness towards the littunes and even helps pick the best fruit for them that they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to reach. He also helps Ralph make shelters at the beginning of the book when no one else wanted to. Simon is also known to one of the most insightful and bravest of the boys on the island.

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1131 Words | 5 Pages

The climax of the novel is when they start killing each other like Simon, then Piggy, and then the game of hunting Ralph. The hunting game lures people in even those who have a strong dedication towards civilization and order. “Piggy and Ralph, under the threat of the sky found themselves eager to take place in this demented but partly secure society (136),” Golding implies that every individual has an undeniable, innate drive toward savagery which explains Ralph and Piggy’s rush of excitement and bloodlust towards the

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757 Words | 4 Pages

Simon was the character who always had a kind heart and was looking to help even if the boys were mean or making fun of him. Simon always seemed to help anyone, no matter who they were,“The littluns watched him inscrutably over double handfuls of ripe fruit,”(Golding 56). Simon did what he felt was the right thing to do regardless of what others thought, which was to try to bring order to the island. Simon risked his life for the better of the boys by discovering what the “beast” truly was. Even in his last moments, Simon always sought out to help, by releasing the parachute man this let, what the boys thought was the beast, to leave the island.

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387 Words | 2 Pages

While Ralph and Jack imitate their idea of leadership, they take on the negative aspect of unaccountable commanders; abusing their underlings. Jack especially offends the underlings by hitting Piggy in front of them, hurting Piggy and establishing a pattern of disrespect against the fat, spectacled boy; many times the boys look at Piggy and ‘lacked interest in what they saw’ (44). However, while the other boys now see fit to treat Piggy in that same manner, Simon naturally steps in repeatedly to console him, with his kindness confronting the others. Simon’s morality is firmly planted in himself and he acts as such.

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604 Words | 3 Pages

The desire to squeeze and hurt was over-mastering.’ (Golding 114) Ralph’s savage side is awakened in this passage, dampening his sense of humanity. After the

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902 Words | 4 Pages

However, these boys have been taught right and wrong, and they still do horrible acts because of the evil within them. Although Simon may seem like an outlier because he represents goodness and is a Christ-like figure, he is not born good, he just becomes good out of the knowledge that it is right. When Simon is killed, it is out of pure evil and love of death by Jack and his followers. Besides this, there is no other reason for the boys to kill him. Even seemingly good figures like Ralph and Piggy “Found themselves eager to take a place in this demented but partly secure society” (Golding 152).

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941 Words | 4 Pages

Simon is the most good-natured boy on the island, but he still suffers from the effects of subconscious human nature. It is clear that he is also perhaps one of the most intelligent boys on the island because he suggests: “maybe it’s only us” (89) when referring to the beast. The Lord of the Flies solidifies Simon’s theory when it starts speaking to him. The actual pig’s head is not speaking, but rather Simon’s conscience, or his inner “beast”. It tells him, “This is ridiculous.

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1028 Words | 5 Pages

Golding describes Simon as a wise, mature and kind-hearted boy, much like how Jesus is known by everyone. Evidence of these characteristics can be seen during times like when he volunteered himself to explore the island, building the shelters, searching for the “beast” and so forth. During the boy’s first assembly, Ralph and Jack decided to explore the area to confirm whether or not they were on an island, Simon then stepped forward and offered his help, which unveils his helpful and considerate nature. Another instance of Simon’s helpful nature was during an assembly, everyone had to work together to help build the shelters. However, Simon was the only one who actually consistently worked with Ralph to build the shelters.

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285 Words | 2 Pages

By contrasting Ralph’s life before to the filthy conditions,William Golding explores the darkness that is inside of everyone in The Lord of the Flies, even Ralph. In chapter 7, Ralph thinks back to a time where cleanliness was a standard. Now he sees” hair, much too long, tangled here and there, knotted around a dead leaf or twig…. clothes, worn away…, scurfy with brine-” as his new normal.

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1303 Words | 6 Pages

In fact, one can say that he had too much respect for the boys. In chapter 3, Ralph places emphasis on building huts, because he realizes that it will benefit all the boys. In this regard, Ralph was an authentic leader in the sense that his desired end product was something positive which they all needed. Although he becomes frustrated, because of the lack of assistance, he continues to think of ways to increase the possibility of being

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589 Words | 3 Pages

The longer the boys are on the island, the more they forget about the ideas of morality. From chapter one, it can be predicted that there will be issues of societal indecency. Simon is the one character who is able to identify the problems on the island. He knows the island is ruining these boys but is unable to find the courage to speak up. At the beginning of the book, the boys knew right from wrong but chose to act anyways.

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363 Words | 2 Pages

To begin, Simon a character who is under appreciated in the novel, displays himself as a good leader through his selfless acts and care for others. When at an assembly the boys discuss their thoughts and opinions about the beast, Simon, intelligent and wise, attempts to reassure the children by explain to them the truth. “Simon’s effort fell about him in ruins; the laughter beat him cruelly and he shrank away defenseless to his seat” (Golding 89). Although the boys shut down his endeavor for the truth. Simply being brave enough to admit such fact upon the castaways, shows his caring nature and want to ease the fear caused by this monster.

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900 Words | 4 Pages

As the boys grow anxious about the beast, which is presumably murdering boys on the island, Simon offers, “Maybe there is a beast... maybe it's only us,"(103-104). Simon is able to see their behavior, and call it out as beastly acts. Simon’s ability to recognize their faults is imperative in changing their behavior, but instead, they dismiss him. The group's inability to condemn themselves only further their fall into evil, and force them to act worse towards one another.

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932 Words | 4 Pages

The littluns are just representing the majority or the lower class in society. They don’t know politics, but only know playing. They don’t see the future, but only care about the present. If Ralph punishes the twins for spreading rumors and Roger and Jack for rebelling while he is still the ruler, I believe the punished people and the littluns would feel fear and obey him. The punishments can be making them work more hours or hitting them with the spear, Of course, rewards are also needed for the people who make big contribution.

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1127 Words | 5 Pages

During Simon’s encounter with the Lord of the Flies, Golding reveals the central issue concerning human nature. Simon reaches the realization that they fear the beast because it exists within each of them. The Lord of the Flies tells Simon that the beast is inside each boy and cannot be killed. The boys go from behaving like civilized young men to brutal savages. “What I mean is…maybe it’s only us.”

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