Two separate illustrations of an animal head and a fire on a mountain

Lord of the Flies

by William Golding

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Chapter 9 Summary & Analysis

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Summary

Simon returns to consciousness in the clearing and says, “‘What else is there to do?’” The fly-swarmed pig head remains silent. Simon leaves, trudging through the jungle toward the mountain. Despite his wearied state, he climbs the rocks and discovers the parachutist, whose rotting body and foul breath make the boy retch. Simon untangles the lines of the parachute and, seeing the boys with their new fire down at the beach, hurries down to them to dispel the stories about the beast on the mountain.

At the camp below, Ralph and Piggy are bathing in the lagoon. The others have all left to join Jack’s post-hunt feast on the other side of the island. After some deliberation, Piggy suggests that they attend, too, “to make sure nothing happens.”

Ralph and Piggy approach the feast, finding the boys gathered by the spit-roasted pig. When the others notice Ralph and Piggy, they go silent. Then one of the boys runs at Piggy and burns him with a chunk of meat, causing everyone to burst into laughter. Jack, swelling with pride, orders for Ralph and Piggy to be given meat. 

He orders everyone to sit, and only Ralph and Piggy remain standing. Jack then asks who will join his new tribe. Ralph tremulously reminds the group that he is still chief. Jack and Ralph bicker over who possesses authority. When Ralph promises to blow the conch, Jack declares the conch meaningless.

A thunderstorm breaks out overhead, bringing rain; Ralph reminds the group that without the shelters, they’ll be completely exposed. Jack rouses the boys into a dancing circle, and Roger volunteers to play the part of the pig as the other boys chant and pretend to hunt him down. Fearing the storm, Ralph and Piggy join the circle. 

As the intensity of the dance and the ferocity of the storm grow, Simon stumbles out of the forest, appearing only as a dark shape. He tries to tell the group about the parachutist on the hill, but he is absorbed by the circle of boys, who mistake him for the beast. They attack him, pushing him to the rocky edge and down onto the beach below, where they thrash and beat him to death. The group leaves Simon behind, noticing “how small a beast it was.” Suddenly, the parachutist’s body is swept up by the winds of the storm, dragged over the treetops toward the boys, who scatter in fright, and finally carried out to sea. 

The ocean tide rises, bringing bioluminescent creatures that surround Simon. The water envelops his bloody body and begins to pull him out to sea.

Analysis

The group has completely separated into two factions. There are those who follow Jack down a path of Dionysian delight, bloodlust, and savagery. On the other hand, there are those who follow Ralph in his efforts to sustain orderly behavior and return to civilization. The aims of the two leaders are strikingly different as well. Jack wants power and the rush of intense physical experiences like hunting and dancing. He wants to be idolized by the other boys, whom he issues orders as if they were his servants.

Chapter 9 shows the shift of power from Ralph’s forward-thinking agenda to Jack’s more primal agenda. Not only have the other boys already joined Jack, even Ralph and Piggy, beset with aimlessness, decide to join Jack’s feast. Ralph and Piggy, normally dedicated to pursuing the best course of action, are experiencing a loss of purpose. When Ralph fails to assert any authority over the feasting boys, this loss is accentuated.

Simon’s earlier confrontation with the pig’s head, named the Lord of the Flies, reveals the nature of the beast the boys have been searching for. The beast is not an actual creature; rather, it is the impulse toward destruction and violence within each human. In his state of hallucination and metaphysical attunement, Simon manages to intuit this truth. Simon also uncovers the truth about the parachutist, learning that he is not the beast. 

Notice how Golding employs a different prose style for Simon’s scenes. The writing becomes more sensorily rich and even poetic, giving readers a glimpse into Simon’s heightened state. Ultimately, Simon serves as both a mystical truth-teller and a martyr. Additionally, Simon is described to obtain newfound wisdom that is symbolized through his physical attributes such as walking with a "glum determination like an old man." Yet, through this wisdom, he loses the "brightness" that comes with youth. Knowing that the parachutist is not a beast but a corpse unleashes a reality that unveils corruption within society, especially in light of the death that follows war and colonization.   

In his efforts to impart his vision, Simon is consistently misunderstood and ostracized, and eventually, the other boys butcher him without mercy or discrimination. The great irony is that Simon comes to the boys to warn them of the true nature of the beast and the boys respond by unleashing the beast on him, allowing the violence latent within them to leap out.

Part of the truth Simon intuits is that the beast—the violent and destructive aspect of nature—is an unavoidable part of the order of life. Everything that is born is eventually reabsorbed by the natural world in some way; the final passage of the chapter, in which Simon’s body is taken by the sea, shows this. The increasingly violent behavior of the boys reveals how civilization is unable to contain, separate, or avoid the destructive energies of nature.

Expert Q&A

In chapter 9 of Lord of the Flies, what does Simon discover and do for the beast?

In chapter 9, Simon discovers that the "beast" is actually the dead body of a parachutist. He frees the body from the parachute lines and rushes to inform the boys. Mistaking Simon for the beast in their frenzied state, the boys violently kill him. This moment marks their transformation from boys to murderers, symbolizing the loss of innocence.

How does the stormy weather in chapter 9 of Lord of the Flies reflect the plot and Golding's intended implication?

The stormy weather in chapter 9 of Lord of the Flies reflects the plot's climax and Golding's implication of the boys' inherent violence. The violent storm mirrors the buildup to Simon's tragic death, paralleling the boys' descent into madness. Golding uses the storm to emphasize that chaos and savagery are natural when civilization's restraints are removed.

How do Jack and the hunters change in Chapter 9 of Lord of the Flies?

In Chapter 9, Jack and his hunters fully abandon civility and embrace savagery. Jack positions himself as a primitive leader, exuding confidence as he presides over a feast. He uses this feast to flaunt his power and humiliate Ralph and Piggy. The storm intensifies their descent into barbarism, culminating in Simon's death during a frenzied dance. This marks a complete loss of compassion and logic, solidifying Jack's brutal leadership.

What is the symbolism in chapter 9 of Lord of the Flies?

In Chapter 9, symbolism highlights the contrast between purity and savagery. Simon's dead body is depicted with holy imagery, using light and nature to symbolize purity, contrasting with the novel's pervasive darkness. The absence of the conch signifies the breakdown of civilization as the boys succumb to savagery, culminating in Simon's death. Simon symbolizes goodness and purity, akin to a Christ figure, while the Lord of the Flies represents overpowering evil, illustrating society's descent into chaos.

In Chapter 9 of Lord of the Flies, how does Jack tempt Ralph's group to join the hunters and its symbolic reference?

In Chapter 9, Jack tempts Ralph's group to join the hunters by offering food, safety, and fun, symbolizing the base desires of mankind. He presents a feast with roasted meat and coconuts, creating an atmosphere of excitement and sociality. This act can be seen as a symbolic reference to Satan tempting Jesus in the desert, highlighting Jack's use of immediate gratification to secure power.

Who pretends to be the pig in the reenactment of the hunt in chapter 9?

Roger pretends to be the pig in the reenactment of the hunt in chapter 9. He mimics a pig during a frenzied ritual dance led by Jack, grunting and charging at the hunters. However, Roger stops acting as the pig when the intensity increases and joins the hunters. Tragically, Simon is later mistaken for the beast and brutally killed by the boys.

What animal is Golding describing at the end of chapter 9 with the phrases "moon-beamed bodied creatures with fiery eyes" and "The strange, attendant creatures, with there fiery eyes and trailing vapors, busied themselves around his head"?

"...moon-beamed bodied creatures with fiery eyes."
"The strange, attendant creatures, with there fiery eyes and trailing vapors, busied themselves around his head."

Golding's description of "moon-beamed bodied creatures with fiery eyes" and "strange, attendant creatures" at the end of chapter 9 can be interpreted in various ways. Some see them as spiritual beings, like angels or spirits of the land, while others interpret them as fish shimmering in the moonlight, symbolizing nature's role in maintaining order amidst human violence and chaos.

In chapter 9 of "Lord of the Flies", what does "parody" mean in the context of page 146?

In chapter 9, "parody" refers to how the dead pilot's body, entangled in a parachute, mimics the beast the boys fear. The wind's movement makes the body appear larger and more menacing, creating an imitation or mockery of a real creature. This "parody" underscores the boys' internal fears and symbolizes the external war, highlighting that the true evil lies within themselves rather than the harmless, lifeless body.

What does Simon discover in the jungle in Chapter 9 of Lord of the Flies, and what truth must he share with the others?

In Chapter 9, Simon discovers that the "beast" the boys fear is actually the corpse of a parachutist caught in the rocks. This revelation means the beast is not a living threat but rather "harmless and horrible." Simon understands that the real danger lies in the fear and savagery within the boys themselves, and he must share this truth with them to dispel their terror and misunderstandings.

Ralph and Piggy's involvement in the dance at Jack's camp in "Lord of the Flies."

In Lord of the Flies, Ralph and Piggy join the dance at Jack's camp due to a mix of peer pressure, exhaustion, and a desire for acceptance and security amidst a brewing storm. Despite their initial resistance to Jack's tribe, the primal instincts and the allure of belonging to a group draw them into the frenzied ritual. This results in their participation in Simon's murder, highlighting their descent into savagery and the overpowering influence of mob mentality.

Analysis of the phrase "the beast is harmless and horrible" in Lord of the Flies

The phrase "the beast is harmless and horrible" in Lord of the Flies reflects the dual nature of the boys' fear. It signifies that the beast, which is actually a dead parachutist, poses no real threat yet is terrifying due to its grotesque appearance. This symbolizes the boys' internal fears and the darkness within humanity.

What is the major theme in chapter 9 of Lord of the Flies?

The major theme in Chapter 9 is the destructive nature of chaos and savagery, as the boys' descent into brutality culminates in Simon's murder. After discovering the "beast" is a dead paratrooper, Simon is killed by the frenzied boys during a thunderstorm. This event marks the loss of all civility and highlights mankind's inherent wickedness, reinforcing the novel's central themes of the darkness within human nature.

The "cannon" in chapter 9 of Lord of the Flies

In chapter 9 of Lord of the Flies, the "cannon" refers to the thunder and lightning during the storm. This natural phenomenon parallels the chaos and violence among the boys, emphasizing the breakdown of their civilized behavior and the rise of savagery on the island.

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