Lord of the Flies Group

Question:

kamezee
kamezee
Student
High School - 9th Grade

Jack says that sometimes he feels like he is being hunted when he is alone in the forest. Why does he feel this way?

This is in Chapter 3 of 'Lord of the Flies.'

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Posted by kamezee on Thursday December 11, 2008 at 7:06 AM and tagged with chapter 3, jack, lord of the flies, prey.

Answers:

  1. parkerlee
    parkerlee Teacher

    Jack feels the urge to stalk and hunt so strongly that it is visceral,  much like a hunger in his gut. It would be logical that by the process of projection, he would assume other people felt the same way as himself.

    Remember also that the jungle is personified up to a point, beckoning the boys to explore its interior (and their "interior" as well!) This is no simple game of tag or hide-and-seek but is a true test of survival of the fittest. Jack, too, feels vulnerable as he pushes his skills to the limit.

    (Remember that Jack is just a "virtual" character and not a real person who exists outside of whatever the writer shows. We cannot know more than what is stated or implied about him.)

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/flies/lord-flies-interpretations

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    Posted by parkerlee on Thursday December 11, 2008 at 7:52 AM

  2. tkunkel3
    tkunkel3 Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    Jack feels as though he is being hunted down at times because he doesn't feel secure in his role as leader.  He knows that he could never be the leader that Ralph truly is.  Ralph's leadership is all about what is good for the group; Jack's leadership however is self centered.  Jack is only interested in what is fun and what will make him seem more powerful. So while Jack has intimidated several of the boys on the island to follow him, he knows that the boys don't think of him as a true leader but just fear him and feel they have to follow him for their own safety.

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    Posted by tkunkel3 on Saturday December 13, 2008 at 7:44 AM

  3. smallbutstrong93
    smallbutstrong93 Student
    High School - 10th Grade

    Jack is being "hunted" by the beast within himself. It is creeping up on him, just like when you are sad and you are trying to keep it inside, but really it is there inside of you, something that you can't ignore. Jack can't ignore his savage and primitive side, and it is coming out as he continues to hunt and kill.

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    Posted by smallbutstrong93 on Sunday February 22, 2009 at 2:34 PM