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Savagery Lord Of The Flies Quote Analysis

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One way this scene contributes to the meaning of the book is by representing the gateway to savagery. In other words, this scene is the point of the book where all of the boys collectively step foot into the savage world for the first time. Prior to this event, a discussion took place that indicates the fact that some sort of civilization was still in place: “‘I’m chief. We’ve got to make certain. Can’t you see the mountain? There’s no signal showing. There may be a ship out there. Are you all off your rockers?’ Mutinously, the boys fell silent or muttering” (108). By thinking about the signal fire and rescue, Ralph demonstrates that the boys still hold on to the virtues of reason, logic, and values. Additionally, the combination of Ralph clarifying …show more content…

When the boys were reenacting their pig hunt, they started off as just pretending to hurt the boy acting as the pig, but then they started to inflict actual pain onto him: “The circle moved in and round. Robert squealed in mock terror, then in real pain. ‘Ow! Stop it! You’re hurting!’ The butt end of a spear fell on his back as he blundered among them” (114). The fact that Robert is being hurt by these boys clearly shows that this is no longer a game and instead something dangerous. Also, since the boys don’t stop or show any acknowledgment when Robert requests for them to stop, it shows that they aren’t thinking clearly and that they don’t realize what they are doing. This almost seems as if some inner savage instinct is taking over the boys and they can’t quite seem to be able to control it. After this “game” ended, the boys seemed a little rattled after realizing what they had just done: “‘Just a game,’ said Ralph uneasily. ‘I got jolly badly hurt at rugger once’” (115). In this instance, Ralph seems to be a bit scared of what just happened and to make himself feel better he tried to convince himself that it was all just a game. Also, this quote demonstrates how some of the boys, Ralph included, seem to regret their actions, and if they had been in the right mindset at the time, probably wouldn’t have participated in them at all. Collectively, these two quotes explain how the boys switched between playing a game and participating in violence without realizing

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The boys are losing all forms of civility in doing this. Another moment that demonstrates the boys’ progression

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Continuing on his actions of acting like an animal, Jack’s tribe started to use Robert as a fake pig and hurt him, but Ralph did not try to stop them, instead he joined them. The narrator vividly describes Ralph’s reaction, “Ralph, carried away by a sudden thick excitement, grabbed Eric’s spear and jabbed rover with it” (Golding 114). In the beginning of the story Ralph had no desire to kill or even hunt animals and now was pretending to kill a human. Ralph could no longer deny that his civilization was slipping away. Along with that Ralph justified his actions by saying it was just a game, I have gotten hurt playing before it’s fine.

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They pretend to hunt a boy named Robert, badly beating him and almost killing him? 4. Why does Ralph break the game up?

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680 Words | 3 Pages

therein scene “Ralph, carried away by a sudden thick excitement, grabbed Eric’s spear and jabbed at Robert with it.” This shows the weak leadership quality that Ralph had. Instead of stopping other kids, Ralph also gets involved in it. This violence and dangerous game leads them to become

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497 Words | 2 Pages

Ralph was mad at himself and the others for what they had done to Simon (Golding 155). All of the boys killed Simon and they all should be charged with manslaughter because it was accidental because of the trance-like state the boys were in.

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This is ironic where that Ralph had given Jack the responsibility of making sure the fire was always there and had boys to watch for any sign of help but since they all fell asleep, they lost the chance of being rescued. 2. “We don’t need the conch any more. We know who ought to say things.” (101-102) We:

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825 Words | 4 Pages

The novel suggests that even the most civilized individuals can become violent and dangerous when placed in a situation where they must fight for survival. Additionally, the fact that the boys are children suggests that the novel is also about the loss of innocence and the corrupting influence of power. While the choices that characters make regarding self-preservation versus moral code are certainly an important aspect of the novel, it is not the only theme that the novel explores. This is evident in the way that the boys' behavior becomes more violent and primitive as they become more desperate to survive. For example, the boys become obsessed with hunting and killing animals and eventually turn on each other violently and chaotically.

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849 Words | 4 Pages

Ralph and Jack are demonstrating violence by fighting. Their anger for each other has caused them to hate each other even more and fight. Golding uses imagery to show that Ralph and Jack are extremely violent and both are innately savage. In chapter 11, Ralph and his group had gone to see Jack and his group at Castle Rock. Ralph had asked for Piggy’s glasses back because Jack and his group had stole them.

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765 Words | 4 Pages

They could not have survived without Ralph and the skills he already had before the plane crash. Ralph was a true leader who understood what survival

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841 Words | 4 Pages

Eventually, the boys get to a point where all they want is violence. This following piece of evidence shows that the tribe dislikes Ralph and is even going to hunt him for no reason, “‘They hate you, Ralph. They’re going to do you.’ ‘They’re going to hunt you tomorrow.’” (Golding 188).

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Ralph has noticed a drifting between the boys, due to both of him lacking leadership, and to the hunters’ growing free-spirited but crazy morals. He noticed the longer they were away from home, the more sanity they loss. Within the last few weeks, Ralph lost his two only friends due to the horrid actions of the hunters. Seeing Stanley killed for the humor of a hunter, and glimpsing at Simon being stabbed and torn apart both made Ralph realized that not only the voice of reason and justice is gone, but also their hope of redemption, to be rescued. Even after counseling and therapy, Ralph himself felt like those mere five weeks were dreading, endless years, as if he matured throughout time spent on the

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1231 Words | 5 Pages

#3 The boys were competing with each other that made the boys more savage. Evidence to Back up Claims Evidence #1 “ Kill the Beast, Cut his throat, Spill his blood” Evidence #2 “ I’m not going to be part of Ralph lot--....

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1619 Words | 7 Pages

As Jack’s moral character deteriorates, it brings his savagery to the surface, allowing the remnants of civilization to be forgotten. In the beginning of the novel, a group of young boys find themselves alone, without any adults, on an island after

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1702 Words | 7 Pages

Boyd also mentions Ralph’s self-awareness and how he did come back to himself at the end of the book. Ralph’s innocence has vanished and he is beginning to regret the decisions

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However, Jack and his tribe are eager to hunt Ralph down. In this final scene, it is clear that savagery completely took over civilization on the island. “Fun and games,” said the officer. (Golding, 181). The naval officer correctly identified the hunt, because the boys allowed the inner evil dominate themselves.

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