Supplementary Task X: What I would have done...

When Piggy and Ralph realize that Simon has been brutally murdered, they are pretty upset. They nearly go into denial-- they pretend that it never happened and that they don't know how the campfire ended because they left early. Samneric do the same.

I wouldn't have done this (in theory, anyway. I've never been in a situation even close to this one). There's not much that can be done after somebody dies-- you can't change the past, and regrets won't bring anyone back. It would be good to be able to talk to Jack's tribe, except it probably wouldn't be a good idea because they could kill you. One thing I would have done differently, however, is that I would have given Simon a proper burial and a little ceremony. You know, say a couple words about his life, and maybe offer up a prayer for him (if you are religious-- maybe even if you're not. People tend to do that at funerals.).


At a certain point, Jack realizes that in order to cook their meat, they will need a fire. He also realizes that he has no way of starting a fire because he doesn't have the specs. He could've gone and asked Ralph and Piggy for the glasses, but he has too much pride. Instead he goes in the night and steals them, terrifying the littluns and making Ralph and Piggy go into a state of pure rage.

This is just stupid. Honestly! Jack should've stopped being an idiot, counted to ten, and gone and either asked for the glasses or simply appologized and go back to Ralph's gang. I wouldn't ever be in this situation because that's not the kind of person I am, but if I was for some reason I would've appologized. (If you are wondering about the counting to ten thing-- that's what I do when I'm feeling some really strong emotions and have to stop. If I'm really mad, I count to ten before I respond. I try to, anyway. If I'm really hyper and need to calm down, I count to ten. If I'm really upset but I can't just cry because there's lots of people around, I count to ten. It works.)


Ralph's whole purpose on the island is to keep the fire going so that a ship will see their smoke and come rescue them. When Piggy's specs are stolen, he's not sure what to do. He needs the glasses to keep the fire going (even though at this point he's starting to forget about the fire). He decides to go and talk to Jack's tribe and demand that they give him the glasses back. As we all know, this doesn't turn out very well.

I'm not sure what I'd do in this situation. I would be caught halfway between being mad and wanting to demand that they give me the glasses and being terrified that they would kill me the way they killed Simon. I probably would've thought about it a lot longer in a state of hysteria, whatever I decided to do. In the end, I probably would've just left it and hoped that it would all work out. I don't know whether this is the right thing to do or not, but I think I would've been too scared to do otherwise.


Piggy's death is the worst thing that could have happened to Ralph. He is now the only one. He has no loyal friends anymore (Samneric wish him well, but they don't stick by him.) and everyone wants to kill him. He hides and runs and hides and runs and hides and runs until he finally finds the naval offider, who takes control of the situation.

I admire Ralph for this. I think I would've given up at this point and given into Jack. I would've been too weary, tired, lonely, and scared. I don't think I would've had it in me to run around the island-- although if my life was in danger, who knows what I could do? Either way--- props to Ralph.

So ends our blog. Keep smiling, everyone.