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   ms-mcgregor Teacher
   High School - 12th Grade

   After the boys think they have discovered the beast, Simon suggests they climb the mountain and take a longer look at "the beast". When questioned by the others, he says, "What else is there to do." However, the rest of the boys resist Simon suggestion and decide to build a fire, instead. After the fire is constructed, they notice Simon is missing. He has gone alone to his hideaway. This just happens to be where Jack kills a sow, and cuts off her head as an offering to the beast. After Jack and his hunters have left, Simon, who has epilepsy, seems to have some kind of seizure. Epilepsy was often thought to give special insight to the sufferer. While having the epileptic seizure, Simon imagines a conversation with the pig's head, or "The Lord of the Flies." The main point of the conversation is that the beast and evil is a part of the boys and not a separate entity. When Simon comes out of the seizure, he decides to climb the mountain alone to discover the truth about the beast. This makes him special because he seems to be the only boy who is really concerned about discovering the truth.

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/flies

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

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

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   Posted by ms-mcgregor on Friday October 10, 2008 at 1:50 PM