From the boys’ first meeting, the group contains clear lines of social stratification. The intersections of power and maturity are prevalent when looking at the differences between the littluns and the biguns. The littluns are objects of scorn for most of the biguns, who view them as annoying and, in extreme cases, disposable. Jack’s proposal that a littlun be used as a pig in a mock-hunt is met with laughter and cheers, and even Ralph finds himself hoping the beast “prefers littluns.” This attitude highlights the dangers faced by those in the lower rungs of society, often at the hands of those in power. 

Simon and Piggy represent different types of outsiders. Whereas the littluns are shunned as a group, Simon and Piggy are excluded on an individual basis. Piggy is an object of ridicule due to his corpulent appearance and his fixation on rules and order in a society that is unraveling towards chaos. Simon is an outcast somewhat by choice, seeking out solitude and seeing the world through a different lens. His peculiar personality leads the other boys to view him as “batty,” enhancing his isolation. The dangers of an isolated individual are made evident through the deaths of Simon and Piggy, both of whom were vulnerable because of their exclusion from the group. 

The hunt for Ralph at the end of the novel reflects how mob mentality results in the dehumanization of those deemed “outsiders.” Ralph is hunted like an animal and denied his humanity on account of being an outcast. Because of Jack’s jealousy and resentment, there is no place for Ralph in the tribe, so he is forced to fend for himself. Ultimately, he is saved only by the arrival of the naval officer, whose presence forcibly reinstates civilization, along with its value of inclusivity.