Simon always questions and seems to want to desire "the truth". He even builds his own shelter to get away from "the mob" of boys and to be able to think for himself. However, his first words that contradict the common view of the "beastie" are rejected. He says, "Maybe the beast is us". That comment is quickly ignored while the other boys focus on finding an actual "beast". When Simon actually discovers that "the beast" is a dead parachutist and no threat to the group, he immediately runs down the hill to tell the rest of the boys the truth. In his haste, however, he does not realize the boys are in a frenzied state and not in any condition to recognize the truth. Instead, the boys kill Simon, thinking Simon is "the beast. No one, not even Ralph, tries to stop the boys from killing Simon, and therefore extinguishing the truth.