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   ladyvols1 Teacher
   High School - 9th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   Originally, most of the boys looked at their plight as an adventure.  Ralph is excited at the thought of no adults.  They decide this is an opportunity to show the adults how "civilized" they can be.  They pick a leader, and they build a fire for a smoke signal.  Later the boys begin to fracture into groups.  Jack and his group only want to hunt.  They don't want to help with the work of setting up shelters, or keeping the fire going.  The "littluns" are scared and seeing "beasts."  The cry out in their sleep and have nightmares.  Simon keeps wandering off to his special place to be alone.  Ralph and Piggy try to keep order.  Eventually everything falls apart.  Simon is killed, then Piggy, then Ralph is hunted, and everyone is becoming uncivilized and scared.  "Most characters in the story show elements of both reason and emotion. Piggy, with his interest in science and fact, may seem to represent the life of reason, while Jack and the hunters may seem to represent the emotional side of life. To Golding, however, matters are not that simple."

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/flies/characters

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

   http://www.enotes.com/flies/themes

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   Posted by ladyvols1 on Tuesday November 18, 2008 at 8:51 PM