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   missblimey Teacher
   High School - 12th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   Ralph does return a shy "hullo" to the officer at first (chapter 12, p223) but then does not speak again until the officer asks him if any have been killed. His answers remain simplistic - monosyllabic answers like "I am" or he cannot finish them like when he tries to explain how things were at first on the island (chapter 12, p223). By the end though he forgoes any attempt at being 'normal' and breaks down into tears along with the rest of the boys.

   In this final scene we see Ralph trying to be what he always was - reasonable and responsible. Indeed despite the events of the past few days he still identifies himself as leader when the naval officer asks him who it is. There could be several reasons for this - he doesn't want to admit to having lost his role, he wants to protect the others by taking responsibility or it could simply be that the shocking presence of this symbol of their previous life takes Ralph back to how things were at the beginning - when finding rescue was their goal.

   Ralph's speechlessness symbolises the weight of everything he has learnt and in trying to respond to the lighthearted comments made by the naval officer he is overwhelmed by the impossibility of explaining what has happened. Ralph is one of the more articulate boys but even he cannot put words to the terrible situation they have lived through, particularly to this man who symbolises not only society but his own father (who was also a naval officer).

   Sources:

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

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   Posted by missblimey on Thursday August 21, 2008 at 2:33 AM