LoTF Flashcards
Point for Jack’s Character at the beginning of the novel.
Chapters 1-4
Jack is presented as somewhat innocent and civilised, but wants to appear as a savage in order to gain status and a following on the island. Throughout the novel Jack’s desire for power has been the primary driver behind his actions.
Evidence for Jack’s Character at the beginning of the novel.
“What an enormity the downward stroke would be.”
‘Next time there would be no mercy.’
Point for Jack’s Character in the middle of the novel.
Chapters 5-8
Jack is presented as thinking of himself as a true leader and ashamed that Ralph was chosen ahead of him. His inability to gain power amongst the boys leads to his outburst in Chapter 8. He is also presented as having insecurities about his actions as he struggles to deal with judgement from both others and from himself.
Evidence for Jack’s Character in the middle of the novel.
“He isn’t a proper chief.”
‘Humiliating tears were running from the corner of each eye.’
‘Liberated from shame and self-consciousness.’
Point for Jack’s Character at the end of the novel.
Chapters 9-12
Jack is presented as feeling safer as part of a group, especially when he is the leader of that group. He is also presented as very smart and a manipulator as he uses their fear of the beast to control the boys.
Evidence for Jack’s Character at the end of the novel.
‘Jack had backed right against the tribe and they were a solid mass of menace.’
Point for Violence at the beginning of the novel.
Chapters 1-4
Violence is presented as the line between civilisation and savagery on the island. It is the main thing that the boys are not used to doing that they have to. This is what eventually causes their savagery as they are no longer placed under the scrutiny of societal conventions. There is very little violence in the beginning and the closest thing to it is insults.
Evidence for Violence at the beginning of the novel.
“Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood.”
‘What an enormity the downward stroke would be.’
“Shut up Fatty!”
Point for Violence in the middle of the novel.
Chapters 5-8
Violence is presented as the consequences of a mob mentality amongst the boys. It creates a sense of liberation from judgement and it is a release for the hunters. It makes the boys feel powerful, especially Jack as he devotes himself to the task of hunting. The severity of the violence also increases, as we begin to see the violence shifting from man on animal to man on man.
Evidence for Violence in the middle of the novel.
‘liberated from shame and self-conciousness.’
‘Robert squealed in mock terror, then in real pain.’
“Ow! Stop it! You’re hurting!”
‘The desire to squeeze and hurt was over-mastering.”
Point for Violence at the end of the novel.
Chapters 9-12
Violence is presented as unavoidable and a part of the boys. No matter what they have an innate desire to cause pain and injury. It is forever present on the island and it cannot be prevented.
Evidence for Violence at the end of the novel.
‘At once the crowd surged after it, poured down the rock, leapt on to the beast, screamed, struck, bit, tore.’
“He’s going to beat Wilfred.”
Symbolism of the Beast
The imaginary beast that frightens all of the boys stands for the primal instinct of savagery that exists within all human beings. The boys are afraid of the beast, but only Simon reaches the realisation that they fear the beast because it exists within each of them. As the boys grow more savage , their belief in the beast grows stronger. By the end of the novel, the boys are leaving it sacrifices and treating it as a totemic god . The boys’ behaviour is what brings the beast into existence, so the more savagely the boys act, the more real the beast seems to become.
Symbolism of the Fire
- Initially the fire is used as a signal fire to attract potential rescuers to the island. Therefore, this leads the fire to be a symbol of the boys’ hope to be rescued and a link to civilisation. The boys work hard to maintain the fire at the start of the novel and this indicates their strong desire to return to society and their hope of rescue. When it burns low or is put out all together, the hope of the boys withers and it can be seen as a measurement of the boys’ hope and desire to return home.
- However, when the fire burns down a large portion of the island, it becomes a symbol for chaos and death. Ironically, the fire is what ends up alerting a rescuer, but this was a fire of savagery intended by Jack to force Ralph out of the forest as they attempted to hunt him.
Symbolism of the Conch
The conch is a symbol for civilisation, democracy, authority and fairness on the island. It is intrinsically linked to Piggy as he found it and it also represents similiar things to that of his character. As the boys descend into savagery, the conch begins to lose its power over them and is disregarded. Right at the end of the novel, when Piggy is killed by a boulder, the conch is crushed. This signifies the complete loss of innocence amongst the boys and the end of civilisation on the island.
Symbolism of Piggy’s Glasses
Piggy represents the superego on the island and is the most intelligent and rational of the boys. His glasses, therefore, represent the power of science and knowledge. This is prominent when they are used as burning glasses to start the signal fire.
