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   missblimey Teacher
   High School - 12th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   Firstly there is the notion of uniform. Ralph began his time on the island wearing a uniform but he stripped it off almost instantly suggesting that freedom from the confines of such thing was something he desperately wanted. It is ironic therefore that a uniformed person is his salvation - representing that Ralph probably understands that the restrictions of society are now both necessary and desirable. Remember that Ralph's father was a naval officer too so the fact that he is rescued by one is even more significant.

   The fact that the naval officer is so clean and perfectly turned out compared with Ralph's dirty and dishevelled state is also significant as we would expect the child to be safe and well cared for and the officer to have been fighting and in danger but their respective appearances show that this hasn't been the case.

   Finally it is ironic that, despite being a child Ralph has more of an understanding of what has happened, of human nature itself, than the adult officer - who seems to believe that the vicious hunt he has disturbed was nothing but "Fun and games" (p223, chapter 12). His attitude reminds us of the boys' feelings when they first arrived - both he and the boys refer to a book called the 'Coral Island' and both talk about the fact that, as British boys, they should be putting on a 'good show'. The fact that he is talking about these things when we know how much the boys have learnt is ironic.

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/flies/chapter-12-summary-analysis

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   Posted by missblimey on Thursday August 21, 2008 at 2:19 AM