Chapter 10
Key Characters:
Ralph: Aware of and willing to acknowledge the fact that they murdered Simon, Ralph turns to Piggy to talk it all through. However, Piggy is not so willing to be self-reflective and take responsibility. Ralph ends up going along with this line of thinking. In fact, when Piggy lies to Sam and Eric, saying they "left early," Ralph remains surprisingly silent. In fact, Ralph really does seem to be losing hope and direction. He has more trouble with his memory, specifically relating to why they even need a fire (so they can get rescued) and also caves in and lets the fire go out over night. Ralph also appears to be suffering from more intense nightmares. In a darkly comic twist, when Jack, Maurice, and Roger attack the shelter, Ralph ends up mistakenly fighting with Eric. This highlights just how out-of-control the situation has gotten and how Ralph has lost his way.
Piggy: Ever the logical thinker, Piggy insists that Simon's death was an "accident." Piggy is unwilling to face the truth of the murder and the feelings of guilt, shame, and horror that would go along with it. This is one of the few times that Piggy is painted as a rather unsympathetic character. Usually, his logic fits right in and seems to be the best perspective. Here, it appears callous, especially given how much Simon did to help Piggy over the course of the novel. The chapter ends with Piggy in a dire situation: Jack, Maurice, and Roger steal his glasses leaving him essentially blind.
Sam and Eric: The twins, like Piggy, refuse to acknowledge their participation in Simon's death and simply pretend that they were so "tired" that they left early. From their cuts and bruises, however, as well as their general awkwardness, it is safe to infer that they were, in fact, participants in the murder.
Jack: Jack, now secure in his new authority has a random boy beaten for "angering" him. It was not made clear to the other boys why Wilfred was punished, but it really doesn't matter. Jack wants to make sure that everyone is clear on who's boss, and that means random punishments. With regard to the beast, Jack insists that it was not killed and that it had come "disguised." This notion that the beast had come in disguise seems to confirm that Jack and the others knew that it was Simon, or at least in the "form" of Simon. Jack and the boys plan to steal the fire from Ralph's camp that evening.
Key Moments and Things
The Raid: A moment of DRAMATIC IRONY (when we know more than the characters do) occurs when Jack, Maurice, and Roger are about to attack Ralph's shelter. Ralph and the other boys don't have any idea that Jack had planned to attack them, so they think it is the beast. The readers know better. The attack itself is wild, confused, and violent... much like all of the boys at this point in the novel. The fact that Ralph and Eric are mistakenly fighting each other seems to mirror the idea that we, as humans, are our own worst enemy. Jack is ultimately successful and steals Piggy's glasses.
Piggy's Glasses: Throughout the novel, Piggy's "specs" have been the symbol of logic and the ability to "see" the difference between right and wrong. Of course, Piggy seems to already have lost his vision with his insensitive reaction to Simon's death, but now, it appears to be official. In addition, the glasses symbolize the way off the island, given that it is the source of the rescue fires. Now that Piggy's glasses are in Jack's hands, the possibility of rescue seems more and more remote.
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