Illuminating Chapter Seven

Yes, it's finally me!!! Sorry these posts have taken so long... here goes.

The first part of this chapter that I found particularly memorable was when Simon tells Ralph that he thought he would get back home.


'Simon was speaking almost in his ear. Ralph found that he had rock painfully gripped in both hands, found his body arched, the muscles of his neck stiff, his mouth strained open.

"You'll get back to where you came from."

Simon nodded as he spoke. He was kneeling on one knee, looking down from a higher rock which he held with both hands; his other leg stretched down to Ralph's level.

Ralph was puzzled and searched Simon's face for a clue.

"It's so big, I mean--"

Simon nodded.

"All the same. You'll get back all right. I think so, anyway."

Some of the strain had gone from Ralph's body. He glanced at the sea and then smiled bitterly at Simon.

"Got a ship in your pocket?"

Simon grinned and shook his head.

"How do you know, then?"

Simon shook his head violently till the coarse black hair flew backwards and forwards across his face.

"No, I'm not. I just think you'll get back all right--."

For a moment nothing more was said. And then they suddenly smiled at each other.'

(Lord of the Flies, page 121-122)


Aww! Isn't that sweet? This is the first time that any of the boys have really related on an emotional level at all. Before this, it's just like they're a group of boys randomly placed on the same island. They act like friends because they do the same things. They have to work together to survive. But they never really talked about their lives away or how they felt about the whole island experience. This little part shows that even though they don't talk (I mean, Ralph never said anything to spark this conversation), they relate and communicate.


The next part of this chapter that I felt was significant was when Ralph wounded the boar. It's important because he begins to lose attention and control. It shows the beginning of his loss of power.

' "I hit him," said Ralph indignantly. "I hit him with my spear, I wounded him."

He tried for their attention.

"He was coming along the path. I threw, like this--"'

(Lord of the Flies, page 125)

I think that this is significant because for the first time in the novel, the boys don't simply fall at Ralph's feet. He does something that he thinks is important, but they don't care. This will only get worse as the book goes on.


The final important section of this chapter is when they are looking for the beast and Ralph chickens out.

' "If you don't want to go on," said the voice sarcastically, "I'll go up by myself."

Ralph heard the mockery and hated Jack. The sting of ashes in his eyes, tiredness, fear, enraged him.

"Go on then! We'll wait here."

There was silence.

"Why don't you go? Are you frightened?"

A stain in the darkness, a stain that was Jack, detached itself and began to draw away.

"All right. So long." '

(Lord of the Flies, page 132)

This is important because Jack can use this against Ralph later on. He had more courage and bravery than Ralph did at this specific point, and he can use that to make him seem like the better leader.


Keep smiling, everyone!