Lord of the Flies Alternate Ending & Epilogue

Think you have a better idea of how to end Lord of the Flies than William Golding?

Leave a comment with your alternate ending or an epilogue (a brief description of what happens to the characters after the ending of the book--you can imagine them right after they get back to "civilization" or years later... up to you!).

Have fun!

The Bystander Effect

Here is an article about the man who was pushed onto the Q train tracks earlier this week, which I mentioned yesterday in class:  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/06/nyregion/police-arrest-naeem-davis-in-subway-death.html?ref=nyregion

For me, this brought up questions about the diffusion of responsibility:  why didn't anyone help him?  What does that say about human nature?

I think there are also some connections to Lord of the Flies, especially relating to the fact that no one really wanted to take responsibility for Simon's death.  Even if Ralph and Piggy weren't actively involved in his murder (though this is arguable), why didn't they try to help him?

What causes us to freeze up in these moments, rather than help our fellow citizens?  If you have comments, please post them!

Lord of the Flies Chapter 11 Notes

Chapter 11

Key Characters

Ralph: Faced with the fact that they no longer have Piggy's specs to start a fire, Ralph furiously tries to rekindle flames from the fire the allowed to die out the night before but fails. Piggy encourages Ralph to call a meeting (with the only kids they have left), at which Ralph expresses his frustration: Jack didn't need to steal anything, they would have shared the fire. Ralph continues to lose his train of thought frequently, which Sam and Eric notice. Ralph, however, remembers Simon's assertion that he'll "get back all right," and regains some hope. He ultimately agrees to accompany Piggy to Castle Rock to meet with Jack. There, he gets into a fight with Jack and tries to make a final point about getting rescued to get the boys back on his side, but is met by silence. The futility of trying to reason with Jack's tribe is confirmed when they capture Sam and Eric and kill Piggy. The chapter ends with Ralph fleeing for his life.

Piggy: With no other option besides blindness, Piggy suggests the boys go to Castle Rock with the conch to reason with Jack.  Piggy realizes he isn't as strong as Jack but hopes he can show him the difference between right and wrong. Piggy is passionate about doing this "against all odds." When they reach Castle Rock, Piggy is allowed one final speech in which he makes another plea for reason. Roger answers by heaving an enormous boulder at Piggy.  Piggy is knocked off the narrow strip of rock and falls 40 feet to his death. He is killed instantly and swept out to sea by the waves.

Roger: recalling an earlier scene, Roger begins throwing rocks again, at first "aiming to miss" though he feels a dark "source of power" (most likely our violent nature, "the beast") begin to "pulse" in him.  He eventually heaves a huge boulder off the top of Castle Rock (100 feet up), which kills Piggy. No longer are the rules of society holding Roger back! In fact, he almost shoves Jack as he walks by him and the narrator confirms that he has a "nameless authority," which likely refers to his willingness to submit to his own "inner beast."

Jack: He shows up at Castle Rock on the same level as Ralph since he was out hunting. They get into a physical fight but it breaks momentarily as Piggy reminds Ralph why they are there (to remind Jack about the importance of the rescue fire and "playing fair"). Once Ralph finishes his speech, Jack orders Sam and Eric to be captured and tied up, leaving Ralph completely on his own.

Key Things and Moments

The Conch: Piggy would like to believe that the conch, with its symbolism of rational society and democracy, still has power. It does afford Piggy the authority for one last speech, but it is shattered by the boulder that kills him. This is, of course, very bad symbolic news. The conch and the civilized society it represents is gone forever. The outlook for Ralph looks bleak.

Castle Rock/The setting: understanding this chapter relies heavily on understanding how the setting is, well, set up.  The full description is on p105-106.

Castle rock is a rock formation about 100 feet tall. To get to it, you need to cross a narrow strip of rock that extends into the ocean, and is beaten by the water on both sides (though on one side, when the waves recede, another large flat rock is revealed, which is where Piggy falls). This narrow strip is about 40 feet in the air and is where Piggy, Ralph, Sam, and Eric are standing in this scene.

To get to the top of the 100 foot formation, it is better to edge around it to the other side, where there is a steep incline that is easier to climb than the face of the cliff. At the very top are lots if large boulders that could be pushed off the cliff onto "intruders" below. This is where Roger and some of the other boys are standing.

Away from Castle Rock and on the "island side" of the narrow strip is a grassy area where Jack and his hunters show up after Ralph and the others have crossed onto the strip.

Lord of the Flies Chapter 10 Notes

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.

Lord of the Flies Chapter 9 Notes

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.

Lord of the Flies Chapter 7 & 8 Notes

Key Characters

Ralph:  In this chapter, Ralph gets his first taste of hunting and... likes it.  He's proud of having speared the boar that came charging at them in the jungle.  However, the other boys didn't seem to care all that much about Ralph's success.

Simon: Simon tells Ralph emphatically that "I just think you'll get back all right" (111).  Simon seems very sure of himself that Ralph, at least, will one day get off the island. Later, in Chapter 8, after Ralph and Jack "confirm" the existence of the beast, Simon suggests that they go back to the mountain to really make sure that the beast is there (he's still doubtful that it exists).  Everyone ignores him, so he goes off to find the beast himself--on his way he sees the entire scene in which Jack and his new tribe kill the mother pig.  (See "Simon and the Lord of the Flies for more info).

Key Things and Moments

The "Game":  They boys start a new game where one of them pretends to be a pig and the others make a ring around him and "hunt" him down.  Robert happens to be the first fake pig, but the game gets a bit out of hand.   Even Ralph gets sucked in to the violence, with the narrator noting that "the desire to... hurt was over-mastering" (115).  This isn't the last time you'll see this game in the text, so watch out for it.

The Beast: By the time the boys hike from The Castle, hunt the pig, play the new game, and get to the mountain, it is dark.  Jack goes ahead of the other boys to see if the "beast" is actually there, like Sam and Eric said.  Again, foiled by the darkness, Jack says he sees "a thing bulge on the mountain," (121).  When Ralph, Roger, and Jack go to get closer, the wind picks up, the dead pilot's body lifts and they get an obscured glimpse at his decomposed face.  Since it's too dark to actually see that this "beast" is just the body of a shot-down pilot, they think they have confirmed that the beast exists.  In the meeting in Chapter 8, Jack says that the beast is hunting them (even though there is no evidence for this).

The Signal Fire:  Now that the "beast" rules the mountain, the boys believe they can no longer have the signal fire up on the mountain (the most visible place for it).  Of course, the symbolic connection makes sense. The beast (though not actually real) is impeding their efforts to get off the island:  just like their "inner" beasts push them to want to hunt and indulge in violence rather than try to get back to civilization.  In Chapter 8, Piggy has the idea to move the signal fire to where they camp out, near the bathing pool.

The Meeting & Split in Chapter 8: Jack again tries to usurp Ralph's authority, saying that the latter was too scared to go see the beast.  (Even though Roger stayed back too, Jack doesn't mention this).  In the meeting, Jack asks "Who thinks Ralph oughtn't to be chief" (127).  Once again, Jack is humiliated, as none of the boys raise their hands.  However, this time, Jack storms off, saying he is going to create his own group that will hunt on its own. Maurice, Roger, and Bill are the first to leave Ralph to join Jack's group (surprise, surprise).

Mamma Pig:  During Jack's first hunt as chief of his own separate group, the boys come across a mother pig nursing her little piglets.  The boys hunt down the sow (female pig) and brutally kill her--even shoving a spear up her rear end and smearing the blood from her cut throat on their faces.  This is a brutal killing that has elements of rape in it.  Considering that the sow is the only female mentioned in the book, (beside Piggy's auntie), what happens to her is significant.  The boys' extreme disregard for life (they kill a mother nursing her babies) is significant; the fact that it is highlighted in the first hunt with Jack as his own chief foreshadows the violence to come.  Also significant is the fact that the boys cut off the sow's head and put it on a stick as an offering to "the beast":  this becomes the titular "Lord of the Flies".

Simon and the Lord of the Flies: As mentioned above, Simon saw the killing and beheading of the sow.  This, along with his dehydration, seems to have sent Simon over the edge.  He begins to hallucinate that the sow's head (remember, Jack put it on a stick as an offering to the beast) is talking to him.  This is a little confusing and weird, so pay attention:

Sow's head is called the "Lord of the Flies" (because there are so many flies buzzing around it).  It REPRESENTS our dark nature and is, therefore, the "true beast" of Golding's novel.  In his hallucinations, the Lord of the Flies talks to Simon, telling him he was "just wrong" and that he should "go back to the others" (137).  Basically, the Lord of the Flies is trying to make sure Simon won't give him away.

At the end of chapter 8 (after an interlude in which we check in on Ralph and Jack), the conversation between Simon and the Lord of the Flies (i.e. the pig head on a stick) continues.  The Lord of the Flies argues that it was silly that the boys thought that "the Beast was something you could hunt and kill," and goes on to say that "I'm part of you" (143).  This, of course, verifies what Golding (and Simon) have been saying all along: the Beast is our dark side and it is not something we can hunt or hide from.  The chapter ends with the Lord of the Flies threatening Simon to keep his mouth shut about the true nature of the beast: "I'm warning you.  I'm going to get angry... You're not wanted...We are going to have fun on this island! So don't try it... or else" (144).  Foreboding indeed.  How Simon will react is another question.

Lord of the Flies Chapter 5 notes

Key Characters

• Ralph:  Here, we see the DYNAMIC aspect of Ralph's character.  He started off relatively carefree.  However, with the weight of responsibility, he has begun to grow up and think more logically.  Ralph knows that the boys are on the edge of chaos and that he must have a stern meeting to bring them back to a civil lifestyle.  Unfortunately, he is unsuccessful.  In fact, at the end of the chapter, he almost decides to give up being the chief.  However, Piggy and Simon convince him otherwise.

Key Things and Moments

• The Meeting:  Ralph knows that this meeting will be extremely important--that he needs to reign in the boys and make them understand that they need to follow the rules to survive.  He brings up 4 major points:

1. The boys need to follow through with their promises (keeping coconuts full of fresh water, actually helping to build the shelters)
2. The boys should not just "do their business" anywhere they please, they should go to the bathroom at the rocks by the bathing pool.
3. They must work together to keep the rescue fire going.  The fire should only be located on the mountain (no one is allowed to make small cooking fires).
4. The Beast: Ralph feels like the boys really need to talk through this:  what are they afraid of?  What do they think the "beast" is?  Ralph hopes that talking about it will cure the boys' irrational fear.  

Unfortunately, the meeting ends in chaos, with Jack saying "Who cares" about the rules (91).  Ralph has failed in his attempt to have an orderly and meaningful meeting.

• The Beast:  At the meeting (as mentioned above) Ralph brings up the idea of the Beast.  We hear some interesting ideas from the characters that foreshadow later events:
• Piggy says the beast or "fear" could be of "other people," (84).  The boys laugh at this idea, but Golding puts this detail in for a reason!
• Simon furthers Piggy's point by saying that maybe the beast is "only us," (89).
• Ralph still wants to believe that there IS no beast:  he truly wants to believe that we are inherently good.
• The other boys all seem, now, to think that the beast is, in fact, a ghost.