The theme of the story would have to be civilization vs. savagery because the biggest concern in the story is between two competing desire that is within all human beings. To follow the rules, act tranquilly, and to value the good of the group against the aptitude to delight ones sudden desires. The conflict between the two instincts is the detachment of the young boys moral and well behaved manner as they get used to their new life in the harsh jungle. “I’m going up to the mountain to look for the beast— now.” The mysterious beast represents and stands for the primitive instinct of barbarity that exists in every human being. They are afraid of the beast, but only Simon is the only one who figures out that they fear the beast because it