Lord of the Flies Group

Question:

aslnerd18
aslnerd18
Student
High School - 12th Grade

What does Ralph notice about his hygiene and why is it wrong for Jack to kill the largest sow?

Rate question:

Posted by aslnerd18 on Thursday May 14, 2009 at 4:37 PM and tagged with hygeine, jack, kill, sow.

Answers:


  1. troutmiller Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    In chapter 7 Ralph thinks about how he could clean himself up.  He'd bathe for starters, cut his hair, brush his teeth and after looking at his bitten-to-the-quick nails, realizes he couldn't fix those.

    In chapter 8 the boys kill the sow.  The reason this is such a horrible scene is because the pig is a mother, nursing her young.  It should be respected as a very tender and beautiful thing.  She is "sunk in deep maternal bliss."  Then the boys are described as "wedded to her in lust" as they attack her.  All of the descriptions of the boys stabbing her very closely describes a gang-rape scene.  They even shove the spear up her back end and make jokes about it.  This scene is where the boys officially "lose their innocence."

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/flies/chapter-7-summary-analysis
    http://www.enotes.com/flies/chapter-8-summary-analysis

    Rate answer:

    Posted by troutmiller on Friday May 15, 2009 at 8:55 AM