The Lord of the Flies Chapter 10-12

1. The Lord of the Flies Chapter 10-12 By the ever fabulous Theme Team “Because only cheese has more cheese.”

2. Chapter 10 • “Piggy? Are you the only one left?” (Pg. 155) • As Ralph inquires as to who is left in his society, which has by now devolved into a miniscule group, he realizes that he has been almost completely abandoned by all but Piggy, who has revealed himself to be a loyal friend. Throughout the story, Ralph’s leadership has set him apart from the others, and he has matured from a goofy boy at the beginning to a serious, introspective, and mature boy, forced into this change by their environment. As Ralph metamorphosed, he finds himself being betrayed by the other boys. His changes may have adapted him for the hardships his leadership would create for him, but they also have forced him into solitude.

3. Chapter 10 cont • “Look, Ralph. We got to forget this, we can’t do no good thinking about it, see?” (pg 157) • Ralph is distraught about Simon’s murder. Though it is unclear if Ralph actually had a firsthand part in the gruesome, horrible murder, Ralph is quite upset nonetheless. Piggy, on the other hand, who was also present at the murder, is being very logical and methodical , almost heartless, and is telling Ralph to just forget about Simon’s murder. Piggy’s lack of emotion in regards to Simon’s death is unusual, as Piggy previously would likely have been upset.

4. Chapter 10 cont • “The chief was sitting there, naked to the waist, his face blocked out in white and red. The tribe lay in a semicircle before him. The newly beaten and untied Wilfred was sniffling nosily in the background. Roger squatted with the rest.” (pg 160) • Jack’s leadership and control over his new group is harsh. He has become the dictator at the head of a fascist society, using fear and violence to maintain his all powerful control.

5. Chapter 11 cont • “I say! You voted me for chief. Didn’t you hear the conch? You played a dirty trick. We’d have given you fire if you’d asked for it.” • Ralph scolds Jack’s group for betraying him and his leadership, as well as stealing the fire and Piggy’s glasses. He tells him that they would have shared the fire with Jack’s group if only they had come over and asked. He informs them that they did not need to steal, to raid them with violence. However, Jack’s group is obsessed with their violent ways, and Jack will refuse to simply ask for the fire from the other boys. Likely, Jack views that as a display of weakness.

6. Chapter 11 • “You can take spears if you want but I shan’t. What’s the good? I’ll have to be led like a dog, anyhow. Yes, laugh. Go on, laugh. There’s them on this island as would laugh at anything. And what happened? What’s grownups goin’ to think? Young Simon was murdered. And there was that other kid what had a mark on his face. Who’s seen him since we first come here?” (Pg 171) • Simon rants to Jack’s group about Simon’s death and the savagery and violence of Jack’s society. He warns them of consequences to come. Once more, Piggy has become a voice of reason amongst the chaos, providing insight into reality which will inevitably be ignored by the majority of the other boys.

7. Chapter 12 • “The twins moaned faintly and squealed again.” • As the twins are tortured in Jack’s cruel society, Ralph has difficulty even now understanding the power of the torture. Additionally, Ralph cannot quite comprehend why Jack has done this.

8. Chapter 12 cont • “At least he heard a voice – Jack’s voice, but hushed, ‘Are you certain?’” • Jack is hunting down Ralph, feeling a need to eliminate Ralph in order to take absolute control over the boys. Ralph’s existence reminds the boys in Jack’s fascist society of the way things were before, when Ralph initially took charge, and Jack fears an uprising from the boys. Thus, he attempts to kill Ralph in order to eliminate that ever dangerous weapon, the hope of freedom.

9. Chapter 12 • “He turned away to give them time to pull themselves together.” (pg 202) • The officer who stumbled upon the savage boys stranded on the island, and he is embarrassed by their emotion. Instead, he turns away to the comforting sight of his warship, rather than having to confront raw human emotion. Though the boys’ society became chaotic, violent, and harsh, the society the boys came from is, in a way, not much better.