Chapter 9
Key Characters:
Simon: After his conversation with the Lord of the Flies and his fainting fit, Simon wakes up with a bloody nose in the mat of creepers where he was hiding. He decides to ignore what the LOTF told him (to not try to reveal the true nature of the "beast," covered in the notes on Chapter 8) and continue on with his earlier quest to go to the mountain and check out the "beast" in daylight. He ultimately discovers that the beast was simply the rotting corpse of the pilot that ejected from his plane back in Chapter 6. Simon immediately realizes that he needs to tell the other boys this news. However, by the time he reaches them, they have already been worked into a blood-thirsty frenzy. Simon is mistaken for the beast and is brutally murdered.
Ralph: Ralph realizes that basically all the biguns besides Piggy, and the twins, Sam and Eric have left him to join Jack's tribe. He insists "I don't care," but this seems unlikely (148). He ultimately decides to attend Jack's party/feast. At the party, Ralph realizes that he has lost his authority as chief to Jack. He almost gets it back by reminding the boys of the shelters, but Jack steps in with his "Kill the Pig Dance" and gets the rest of the kids back on his side. Though Ralph and Piggy had planned on leaving, they both end up staying for the dance and participating in the murder of Simon. The narrator mentioned that both boys wanted to "take a place in this demented but partially secure society," (153). So, even though they realize what they are doing is wrong, they take comfort in being part of the crowd.
Piggy: Piggy shows some character development when he fights back against Ralph's teasing on page 147. Piggy is no longer the "meek" character he was at the beginning of the novel. Also keep in mind that it was Piggy's idea to go to Jack's party and Ralph followed Piggy's lead on that decision.
Jack: Jack has truly fashioned himself as THE chief. He has his little minions bring him food and water and is seated on a "throne." In this chapter, Jack has officially taken over as the leader.
Key Things & Moments:
Simon's Death: With all the boys caught up in their savage dance, Simon unfortunately becomes the victim. He is truly painted as a martyr and Golding even characterizes him as somewhat angelic, given the way that his dead body is carried out to sea surrounded by the bright phosphorescent creatures (plankton). Simon's place as the only "good soul" on the island seems to be solidified by this final image of him that Golding leaves us with.
The Dance: After building up to this moment over the course of the novel (with each dance scene increasing in intensity), the hunters' dance finally gets out of control. The boys have truly turned "savage," unable to see the difference between Simon and "the beast." It appears that the boys actually do, on some level, understand what they are doing. Simon, though he is covering his face, certainly looks like a human figure, and even tries to speak to the boys. Unfortunately, it is too late. They are in such a frenzy that no one actually stops to think about the situation at hand.
The Storm: Thunder and stormy weather often serve to foreshadow conflict. In this case, the storm peaked at the moment of Simon's death. Golding employed the storm to mirror the savagery, blood lust, and violence of the boys, which finally exploded into reality.
No comments:
Post a Comment