Jack Lord Of The Flies Passage Analysis

While stranded on the island without any law keeping them under control, many of the boys change from civilised schoolboys to savage animals living without any morals. Out of all the boys, Jack has the strongest transformation, going from a once civilized choir boy to a ruthless bloodthirsty savage. Using face paint, clay and charcoal, Jack creates a mask for himself as a means of assuming a new identity, one that does not abide by any moral law. It is while wearing the mask that Jack resorts to primal behavior, becoming a barbaric brute. This point in the novel marks a turning point for not just Jack, but everyone, as Jack’s turn to savagery creates numerous problems and issues for all the other boys. The passage is key in molding Jack into

Using literary elements such as symbolism and foreshadowing, the passage allows the author to convey how ignorance and impropriety led to the downfall of the boys and their civilization on the island

Symbolism is utilised throughout the passage as a means of showing Jack’s newfound identity and the downfall it brings to the boys. Masks are typically used to hide the appearance of oneself and show off a better looking outwardly appearance. Similarly, Jack uses this mask to maintain a more intimidating outwardly appearance so as to scare the pigs and control the boys under their fear. “Bill started up laughing; then suddenly he fell silent and blundered away through the bushes” such describes how Jack’s newfound usage of the mask allows him to look more like the scary chief he portrays himself to be. In addition, similar to how masks or a face cover can help improve one’s self confidence, and

The boys’ savage nature grows exponentially throughout the novel, from simply hunting pigs to stealing fires, abusing fellow schoolboys and even murdering some. At the end it is written “Come on! I'll creep up and stab--" The mask compelled them.” It is clear at this point that it is the mask that leads them to hunt the pigs in a more ruthless manner, but also shows how the mask compels the boys to “creep up and stab [kill]” other characters like Piggy and Simon. As well, the addition of the mask on all the boys foreshadows the permanent loss of their civilised identities. “He [Jack] looked in astonishment, no longer at himself but at an awesome stranger.” The quote portrays how Jack himself realises that he is no longer the civilised choir boy he once was, but a new person altogether. It mentions how this mask is “his new face” and is one that even appalls the rest of the boys upon first sight. In its essence, it is an example of concrete foreshadowing, that hints at how the boys, no matter what circumstance will be able to renew their old selves; the damage done is permanent. In its essence, it is an example of concrete foreshadowing of how Jack and his tribe will never get their old identities back, or ever return to the once civilised people they were. In the middle of the novel, Simon mentions how he believes Ralph will successfully be able to