Lord of the Flies Group

Question:

eishaboo08
eishaboo08
Student
High School - 12th Grade

Explain one conflict presented in chapters 3 and 4 of "Lord of the Flies".

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Posted by eishaboo08 on Thursday November 20, 2008 at 6:29 AM and tagged with chapter 3, chapter 4, conflict, lord of the flies.

Answers:

  1. dbrooks22
    dbrooks22 Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    One conflict in chapter three is between Ralph and Jack. While Jack is out hunting and playing, Ralph has been trying to build huts for shelter. Ralph accuses Jack of only wanting to play and not wanting to work.

    In chapter four, Ralph once again accuses Jack of only wanting to hunt and play. Ralph has seen a ship on the horizon and realizes that the signal fire is out. When he reaches the fire, he finds that everyone has gone hunting at the request of Jack. Jack tries to defend himself saying that it is more important to hunt than watch a fire. This conflict is what puts a rift between Jack and Ralph that remains to the end of the story.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/flies/chapter-3-summary-analysis
    http://www.enotes.com/flies/chapter-4-summary-analysis

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    Posted by dbrooks22 on Thursday November 20, 2008 at 9:09 AM

  2. mwestwood
    mwestwood Teacher
    Community / Jr. College

    eNotes Editor

    In Chapter 3 the personality conflict between Jack and Ralph is present, with Jack being the hunter/savage and Ralph the organizer/civilized character.  Complaining that only Simon will help with the shelters, Ralph appears to be losing his place as a leader.  Even Simon hides from him later in the chapter in a place away from the others:"With the fading of the light, the riotous colors died...heat and urgency cooled away." Simon finds peace in communing with Nature while the Ralph and Jack fight it in their separate ways: "They looked at each other, baffled in love and hate."

    Up until Chapter 4 the "littluns" band together, playing in the sand, huddling together at night against the fear of the "beastie."  One afternoon, as the boys play, Roger and Maurice come out of the forest, a somewhat symbolic act since Roger conflicts with Henry, whom he follows to the water.  Roger throws rocks at the boy, but misses him on purpose because of his old training.  Later, he again seizes an opportunity to harrass Henry, but misaims the stones he throws since his "arm was conditioned by a civilization that knew nothing of him and was in ruins."  This remark by Golding suggests that Roger is reverting to savagery.  When Jack comes along and explains about the "dazzle paint," Roger instinctively understands.  Thus, Roger, who has internally been in conflict with his civilized past, now embraces the savagery of hunters.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/flies/chapter-3-summary
    http://www.enotes.com/flies/chapter-4-summary

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    Posted by mwestwood on Thursday November 20, 2008 at 11:50 AM