The fire on the mountaintop symbolizes hope and an opportunity for survival for the boys on the island. Fire is a constant theme throughout the novel, specifically for Ralph and his tribe. The boys believe that the fire will provide a chance for them to get rescued, since passing ships and planes will see the smoke as a signal. When Jack and Ralph split into two groups, Jack decides to invite Ralph’s group to a feast at his tribe. Ralph’s tribe begins to get enticed by this offer since they are all hungry and see Jack’s tribe having a better time than them. They see Jack’s tribe hunting, putting on warpaint, and eating meat. Ralph decides to remind them of their priorities and the importance of the fire. Ralph says, “The fire’s the most important …show more content…
The fire’s the most important thing on the island” (Golding 156). This event demonstrates how much hope Ralph has in the fire. Although Jack’s tribe is having a seemingly enjoyable time, Ralph believes they will get rescued and that he cannot let the fire go out again. This represents the hope and dedication Ralph had. Fire is significant to Jack as well but more so for hunting since he uses it to cook pigs and even to kill when he burns down the island. This shows how fire can represent good and evil, with Ralph using it for good and Jack using it for chaos. Nearing the end of the novel, Ralph starts to get less and less motivated by the fire. At Castle Rock, Ralph, Piggy, and Samneric carry wood at night to make a fire. For a moment, Ralph forgets the importance of the fire but gets reminded by Piggy that they need to get rescued. However, everyone is too tired to keep the fire going. Piggy and Sam say the fire is pointless at night since no one will see it in the dark. Ralph then says, “Let the fire go then, for to-night” (Golding 181). By saying this, Ralph shows he is finally letting go of his devotion. At the beginning of the novel, the fire was his top priority; he was constantly checking on it in the hope of getting