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READ THIS
We find Jack searching through the forest for any sign of the pigs. He returns to the platform where Ralph
is in a state of frustration, attempting to construct shelters with only Simon's aid.
An argument ensues as to whether Jack and his hunters should be helping. Eventually the boys abandon
the effort for a swim, but Simon goes off by himself into the forest.
THE PASSING OF TIME
At no stage in Lord of the Flies are we told how long the boys have been on the island. We are
left to ascertain this by means of hints from the author.
The story opens, for example, at midday when Ralph and Piggy are splashing about in a pool to cool down
from the heat.
And yet there are hints that the aeroplane had crashed at night-time and its wreckage was pulled out to
sea in the dark.
Certainly none of the boys had any knowledge of seeing the actual wreckage even though they must have
escaped from inside. The fact that they couldn't see it means that it must have been very dark when they
crashed.
There is also mention of a thunderstorm when they arrived.
One can surmise from this, therefore, that time had passed since their arrival. How much time? At least
12 hours. Possibly more.
Indeed, it is possible that a whole day or even several days may already have passed by but it is left to
the reader's imagination to work out just how long.
Likewise with the passing of time generally. The author makes absolutely no mention of the duration of
their stay on the island. It would appear from the story-telling that there is a close chronology, one day
simply following on another in the unveiling of events.
And yet there are the clues: the length of the boys' hair; the ingrained filth on their faces and necks; the
deteriorating condition of their clothing; the degree to which the boys are sunburnt.
Can to identify any other hints as to the passing of time?
Have you looked at the questions
in the right column?
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TEST YOURSELF!
Read the left column and then answer
the following questions:
From the pig-run came the quick, hard patter of hoofs, a castanet sound, seductive, maddening -- a
promise of meat.
- Is the word "seductive" a good one in this context to describe the patter of
hoofs? (6)
[Need help?]
The word "seductive" means alluring or enticing but is also a word that is often used in a sexual
context, e.g. the girl was wearing seductive clothing.
It is worthwhile noting that several times in this novel the writer uses such sexually orientated words.
Why?
The most obvious answer is probably that Jack and his hunters had become so passionate about hunting
the pigs, that their passion takes on an almost sexual drive for them.
The boys are of course too young to have had a sexual drive as such: back in 1952 boys of twelve and
younger would certainly not yet have entered puberty. William Golding, however, nevertheless uses a
sexual image to describe the boys' actions on the island.
Can you guess why?
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When Jack "roused a gaudy bird from a primitive nest of sticks", why did it startle him? (4)
[Need help?]
The forest was so silent -- not even the sound of insects -- that the sudden noise of the bird taking off
was totally unexpected.
At the same time, Jack was completely focussed on the task of finding pig spoor that the sudden noise
of the bird taking off came as a shock.
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Ralph argues that nobody is helping him build the shelters, implying that perhaps Jack and his hunters
should have been there to lend a hand. Jack, on the other hand, argues that they needed meat and
therefore the hunters needed to be out hunting.
- Who is right? Explain. (6)
[Need help?]
In a sense, Ralph is right. Shelters were very necessary if they were not to get sick should it rain again.
In fact, up until then, they had been very lucky not to have had rain since their first night on the island. If
Jack and his hunters had indeed lent a hand, the shelters could have been constructed quickly.
On the other hand, Jack and his hunters did have a designated job to do, and there were plenty of other
boys to help Ralph construct the shelters.
Both Ralph and Jack therefore have valid points.
The argument, however, is basically centred upon frustration. Ralph is frustrated that he can't get the little
boys to focus on building. Jack, on the other hand, is embarrassed that he has not managed to kill a pig.
It therefore appears as though he is doing nothing to help anyone -- he appears to be merely seeking
adventure and fun.
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- What does the argument indicate about Ralph's leadership? (4)
[Need help?]
Ralph relies entirely upon co-operation. He cannot find it within himself to punish anyone for not helping.
The little boys, on the other hand, perceive him as amiable but weak, and respond accordingly.
Then again, he could have taken Jack into his confidence, treating him perhaps as an equal. The fact that
Ralph does not do so insinuates that Jack is not doing his work, a criticism which is a barb to Jack's
already wounded pride.
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- Jack does not appear to want to be rescued -- at least, not yet. Why not? (4)
[Need help?]
Jack is obsessed with killing at least one pig. Is this just a blood lust? Or is it perhaps more to do with
Jack's growing sense of failure?
He was not chosen as leader, and now he is unable to fulfill even his appointed role of bringing meat to
the boys.
If they were rescued at that moment, he would see himself as the ultimate loser because he had neither
been elected leader nor had he succeeded in fulfilling even the secondary task appointed him.
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Snakes appear to be no longer mentioned any more.
[Need help?]
There is a fear amongst the boys that the island is haunted by a beastie or snake-thing. The island
appears possessed.
The small boys are having nightmares over it, and even the bigger and more responsible boys like Jack
claim to feel a presence in the forest.
It is so real that they are even afraid of talking about it, lest by doing so they attract the beastie into their
presence.
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- What then is causing the fear to perpetuate? (4)
[Need help?]
The plane crash and the lack of adult supervision and rescue are causing insecurity.
On the other hand, do you think that the death of the boy with the purple birthmark is also coming back
to haunt them?
All the boys -- and especially the older ones -- know that they were somehow responsible for his death
by causing the runaway fire. They know in their hearts that they have committed manslaughter.
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They walked along, two continents of experience and feeling, unable to communicate.
- Explain clearly this metaphor of the differences between Ralph and Jack. (5)
[Need help?]
Note that the author does not speak of two "islands" but rather of two "continents".
Ralph and Jack are the oldest in the group and each is "big" in his own way in terms of experience
and passion. But, like continents, they have drifted away from each other, and are now separated by an
ocean of differences.
Ralph's attention is focussed on rescue , and the need for a shelter and a fire. Jack's passion is to kill a
pig and bring food to the boys, and thereby possibly have leverage to oust Ralph as leader.
Each is so passionate about his particular focus that neither is able to speak intimately to the other.
By the way, the concept of "continental drift" and "tectonic plates" which we take for granted
today was only beginning to become a buzz word when Golding wrote this book.
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Simon paused. He looked over his shoulder as Jack had done at the close ways behind him and
glanced round to confirm that he was utterly alone.
- BOTH Jack and Simon looked over their shoulders "at the close ways behind". Explain what
is meant by this. (4)
[Need help?]
It seems that both boys have a feeling that they are being watched by a being, a spirit. It is as if the
beastie is haunting their tracks.
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- Why does Simon want to be utterly alone? (4)
[Need help?]
It's not easy to explain Simon's passion for being alone.
The boys have commented that Simon is indeed very strange, even "batty". He appears to be a
loner, which is rather strange in one so young.
The probability is that he suffered from epilepsy, a mental malfunction that was not fully
understood back in 1952 when the novel was written.
If Simon felt an attack of epilepsy coming on -- what is now known as a "Grand Mal" -- he would
probably not want anyone to witness his humiliation and would therefore seek isolation.
On the other hand, is Simon also attempting to communicate with the beastie? Is he following the
example of Jesus Christ of going out alone into the wilderness to confront the devil? If so, are we looking
here at a Christ image?
A note will appear later about the concept of the Christ image.
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