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What does Simon see from the mountain in Lord of the Flies?
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From the mountain, Simon sees that the "beast" feared by the boys is actually the corpse of a dead paratrooper with a parachute tangled in the trees. This discovery confirms Simon's belief that the beast is not a physical entity but represents the inherent evil within the boys. After realizing this, Simon notices the signal fire has gone out and attempts to inform the others about the true nature of their fear.
Simon is depicted as a Christ figure throughout the novel and is the only boy who truly understands the identity of the beast on the island. Rather than viewing the beast as a malevolent physical being inhabiting the island, Simon understands that the beast is the inherent wickedness inside of each boy. After his encounter with the Lord of the Flies, which confirms his suspicions regarding the beast's identity, Simon climbs to the top of the mountain to investigate whether or not the boys actually saw a beast. In chapter 9, Simon climbs to the top of the mountain and discovers that the beast is actually the swaying corpse of a dead paratrooper whose parachute is tangled in the trees, which makes the decaying corpse sway when the wind blows. Golding writes,
"The tangle of lines showed him the mechanics of this parody ; he examined the white nasal...
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bones, the teeth, the colors of corruption. He saw how pitilessly the layers of rubber and canvas held together the poor body that should be rotting away. Then the wind blew again and the figure lifted, bowed, and breathed foully at him" (210).
After Simon learns that the beast is actually the corpse of a dead paratrooper, he turns toward the beach and sees that the fire on the platform has gone out. Simon then peers further along the beach and sees a small trickle of smoke, indicating that the boys have shifted their camp away from the beast. Simon then climbs down the mountain and attempts to inform the boys that the beast is actually a dead paratrooper.
In Lord of the Flies, what do Simon and Eric claim to see on the mountaintop?
In chapter 6, a dead parachutist lands on the island while the boys sleep. Sam and Eric are supposed to be watching over the fire, but fall asleep. When they awake before dawn, they realize they have let the signal fire die. As they relight the fire, they see a dark, shadowy figure on the side of the mountain. It seems to sway and raise its head as if it were look at them. Terrified, they leave the signal fire to let the rest of the boys know they have seen the beastie. What Sam and Eric actually see is the dead parachutist that has fallen to the island. The parachute is wrapped around the body; and when the wind blows, the body moves, giving the appearance that is alive and looking at them. This is what they assume to be the beastie.