Illuminating Chapter Eight

The first significant part of this chapter is when Jack decides not to follow Ralph as chief any more.

' "Who thinks Ralph oughtn't to be chief?"

He looked expectantly at the boys ranged round, who had frozen. Under the palms there was deadly silence.

"Hands up," said Jack strongly, "whoever wants Ralph not to be chief?"

The silence continued, breathless and heavy and full of shame. Slowly the red drained from Jack's cheeks, then came back with a painful rush. He licked his lips and turned his head at an angle, so that his gaze avoided the embarrassment of linking with another's eye.

"How many think--"

His voice trailed off. The hands that held the conch shook. He cleared his throat, and spoke loudly.

"All right then."

He laid the conch with great care in the grass at his feet. The humiliating tears were running from the corner of each eye.

"I'm not going to play any longer. Not with you."

Most of the boys were looking down now, at the grass or their feet. Jack cleared his throat again.

"I'm not going to be part of Ralph's lot--"

He looked along the right-hand logs, numbering the hunters that had been a choir.

"I'm going off by myself. He can catch his own pigs. Anyone who wants to hunt when I do can come too." '

(Lord of the Flies, page 139-140)

This is obviously important because it shows the beginning of the division. Right now it seems like it's only a little squabble between a couple of immature school boys. However, this little squabble will break them all up and will even be responsible for great tragedies. It doesn't take long for more and more boys to go to Jack's side.


The second significant part of this chapter is when the present the beast with a gift.

' Maurice and Robert skewered the carcass, lifted the dead weight, and stood ready. In the silence, and standing over the dry blood, they looked suddenly furtive.

Jack spoke loudly.

"This head is for the beast. It's a gift."

The silence accepted the gift and awed them. The head remained there, dim-eyed, grinning faintly, blood blackening between the teeth. All at once they were running away, as fast as they could, through the forest towards the open beach.

(Lord of the Flies, page 150-151)

I thought this was kind of strange. It seems that the boys are almost worshiping the idea of the beast. Why? I'm not sure. Maybe it's because they're so frightened of what the beast could do to them that they're willing to do anything and everything to prevent it. Any thoughts on that?


The last significant part is Simon's... I'm not sure exactly what it was.

' "You are a silly little boy," said the Lord of the Flies, "just an ignorant, silly little boy."

Simon moved his swollen tongue but said nothing.

"Don't you agree?" said the Lord of the Flies. "Aren't you just a silly little boy?

Simon answered him in the same silent voice.

"Well then," said the Lord of the Flies, "you'd better run off and play with the others. They think you're batty. You don't want Ralph to think you're batty, do you? You like Ralph a lot, don't you? And Piggy, and Jack?"

Simon's head was tilted slightly up. His eyes could not break away and the Lord of the Flies hung in space before him.

"What are you doing out here all alone? Aren't you afraid of me?"

Simon shook.

"There isn't anyone to help you. Only me. And I'm the beast."

Simon's mouth laboured, brought forth audible words.

"Pig's head on a stick."

"Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill!" said the head. For a moment or two the forest and all the other dimly appreciated places echoed with the parody of laughter. "You knew, didn't you? I'm part of you? Close, close, close! I'm the reason why it's no go? Why things are what they are?" '

(Lord of the Flies, page 157-158)

It goes on, but that's the jist of it. This is confusing at first because we're not exactly sure what's going on with Simon. He seems to be hallucinating or having a seizure or something... however, even in his confusing mental state, he knows the truth. The truth is that the beast is something inside all of them. It's in everyone, even Simon, the sweetest, best boy on the whole island! (In my opinion, anyway.) They are the danger to themselves. It's not a monster that hides in the sea or in the trees. It's man's violent nature.


Keep smiling, everyone!