Chapter-Wise Literary Analysis of William Golding's Lord of the Flies

Chapter 1
Throughout the first chapter, Golding uses a lot of literary terms to portray the characters, dramatic conflicts, and symbols of the first chapter. For example, Golding uses symbolism using the conch as a representative of law and order. "Careful! You'll break it--"(15) this quote by Piggy shows the delicacy of the conch and shows the fragility of civilization, and how one wrong move can shatter it. Another symbol was Piggy’s glasses. “He wiped his glasses and adjusted them on his button nose. The frame had made a deep, pink V on the bridge.” It symbolized knowledge, insight, and his identity. The crash is also another symbol for failure or breakdown of society in the world outside. Another literary term, Golding uses diction to create tension and reinforces his theme and tone with use of specific words. Golding uses colors such as pink to symbolize particular things such as innocence, as shown in the piglets and the island. The word yellow makes the reader think of the sun, enlightenment and Ralph; the words black and red bring to mind evil, blood and Jack. Golding also uses imagery to describe the scenery and the setting. For example “there was a strip of weed-strewn beach that was almost as firm as a road. A kind of glamour was spread over them and the scene and they were conscious of the glamour and made happy by it.”(25). “All round him the long scar smashed into the jungle was a bath of heat” (7). "Suddenly Piggy was a-bubble with decorous excitement"(15) Golding using the word bubble could have been use to describe Piggy's appearance, you imagine how Piggy looks like; the shape of his body, but it could be also to symbolize how big his excitement was. Another one is a metaphor “The sand, trembling beneath the heat haze concealed many figures in its miles of length…” (18) This metaphor depicts the blazing heat of the island these kids had to deal with. Irony is also uses in Lord in the Flies for example the survivors of the plane crash are boys evacuated from a battle zone in a world war. However, the society they form eventually breaks down, and the children go to war with one another. Another one is that Piggy's eyesight is weak, but his insight is strong. In Chapter 1, Ralph blows the conch which attracts the attention of several boys whom start to congregate on the beach. Moments after, a large group of kids march onto the beach to join the initial group of boys. Golding uses the metaphor, “The creature was a party of boys” (19) to describe the crowd on the beach. Another literary term was the atmosphere, it was a happy, light mood for most of chapter 1, as the boys were excited to be on their own without parents doing what they want. All these literary terms advance the plot in a certain order by introducing characters or showing the imagery in the plot.
Chapter 2
Throughout Chapter 2 Fire on the Mountain, Golding uses literary devices to advance the plot or develop a theme. The first example, In Chapter 2 when the boys succeed in creating a fire with Piggy's glasses, the resulting blaze is described more than once as a "beard of flame" (41). Golding uses "beard" to describe the arced shape of the flames rising up into the night sky. Golding uses the metaphor to visualize the rest of the face that should accompany the flaming beard. One could take this suggestion further and imagine that the fire brings out original, wicked attribute in the boys, stripping them of the trappings of civilization and impelling them to act on savage instincts. Another example in chapter 2, “The crowd was silent as death” Golding describes the crowd as silent as death, meaning they were really silent. This is metaphor explains how quiet they were and that they were silent as death. Another in chapter 2 of lord of the flies, the metaphor that I found was when the author describes the moment that Jack and Ralph are alone on a limb while the others are piling wood. Golding says that the two characters feel in the middle of the breeze, the slanting sunlight and the “strange invisible light of friendship” (39). Golding did an excellent way of describing that moment and them feeling the strange invisible light of friendship. This is a metaphor, because it is saying that the friendship or perhaps just their relationship is a light and they can’t see it. So they feel the strange relationship between both of them, because really they have same ideas, but the friendship is invisible because of the fact they are competition. Golding also uses symbolism, using the beast as a symbol in the Lord of the Flies chapter 2 which is seen as a real thing in the scenery which scares the boys. The beast is also an internal thing and is the soul and mind of the boys, leading them to the likely confusion of a society with no adults. Another symbol is the fire/smoke; the smoke of the fire symbolizes their best hope of them being rescued. To Piggy and Ralph, the represents the honest control of their old life. When the fire goes out, Ralph loses his wits, unsure of his next move. Second symbol is the Glasses which represents clarity to see. Piggy is the only boy with glasses that understands what to do in this situation. Golding also uses irony “All the same you need an army - for hunting. Hunting pigs” (32). This is verbal irony because armies aren't for hunting (protection from hunger/internal threat); they're for fighting other people (protection from war/external threat). Another metaphor “put on green branches,' said Maurice.’That's the best way to make smoke' 'I got the conch-' Jack turned fiercely.’You shut up!'" This argument can lead to more arguments, fights, desire for power, and injury. Golding advances the plots using all these literary devices such as metaphors, irony, and symbolism.
Chapter 3
In Chapter 3 Golding uses many literary terms to move forward the plot and describe the scenery. First example Golding uses a metaphor in Chapter 3 when the sun is setting and Simon goes to where the sunlight fell on the most. Golding describes that place like, "The whole place was walled with dark aromatic bushes, and a bowl of heat and light". (56) The metaphor that was given describes the odor and the temperature of that place where Simon stood. It says that it smelled like the dark bushes’ aroma meaning its sweet scent. It also describe how warm and bright was the area since the sunlight fell on that place the most. The reason why this is a metaphor is because Golding described that the heat was, “a bowl of heat and light” but in reality it isn’t a “bowl” which in this term it means a “great quantity of” (a great quantity of heat and light). It compares the heat and light to a bowl since a filled bowl of “water” is a lot of water meaning that a bowl of heat means a lot of heat. The theme of killing a pig for the sake of food vs. killing things for the joy of killing comes into sharper center of attention. Golding feels that it is natural in man to force his will on other creatures. The theme of the foolishness of fear becomes clear as well. Ralph discovers that he can't just legislate and end to fear of the "Beastie". Another imagery in Chapter 3, as Golding describes Jacks adventure in the "uncommunicative forest," he writes that "the silence . . . was more oppressive than the heat . . . there was not even the whine of insects." When Jack startles a bird, "the silence [was] shattered and echoes set ringing by a harsh cry that seemed to come out of the abyss of ages" (49). Here Golding uses the silence of the forest and the scared bird to create an unfriendly environment. When the "echoes" from the bird's cry are "set to ringing," the cold forces seem to be surrounding Jack, mad all around him. The source of the cry in "the abyss of ages" gives the sense that the evil permeating the picture is timeless - a natural quality of this forest. The result is threatening; the birds cry acts as a caution or warning. Again at the start of Ch. 3, Golding describes Jack’s experience. He first describes how Jacks moves around and thinks; "Jack was bent double. He was down like a sprinter, his nose only a few inches from the humid earth... Then dog-like, uncomfortably on all fours yet unheeding his discomfort, he stole forward five yards and stopped." (48). "Jack crouched with his face a few inches away from this clue... breathed in gently flaring his nostrils, assessing the current warm air for information." (48). "he passed like a shadow under the darkness of the tree and crouched looking down at the trodden ground at his feet. Golding uses imagery so well he makes us think like jack and makes us feel like were hunting to.
Chapter 4
In Chapter 4 Golding uses multiple literary devices to advance the plot in many ways. First example in Chapter 4, Jack breaks Piggy's glasses when he hits him. At this point the glasses symbolize both Piggy's ability to reason and his need or flaw. Right after this, Ralph takes Piggy's glasses (what remains of them) to save the signal fire.......... this angers Jack because the glasses have now become a sign of control. Another symbol is the boys’ painting their faces is like becoming another person. The painting of faces, as well as the things mention above, also indicate how Jack and his hunters are taking up the more ancient and cruel side of their nature, they are vigorously becoming savages. The long hair by difference refers to Ralphs distaste for his long hair, dirty skin and dirty clothes. It shows his denial of the progress towards savagery and his desire to keep what little remains of the trappings of civilization. Another literary device is shown “Roger gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them. Yet there was a space round Henry, perhaps six yards in diameter, into which he dare not throw. Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life. Round the squatting child was the protection of parents and school and policemen and the law.”(62) This quote from Chapter 4 describes the start of Rogers’s cruelty to the “littluns”, an important early step in the group’s decline in savagery. At this point in the book, the boys are still building their civilization, and the civilized still dominates the savage instinct. The downfall are beginning to show, mainly how the older kids use physical force and violence to give themselves authority over the smaller boys. The quote shows us the mental workings behind the beginnings of that eagerness. Roger feels the urge to bully Henry, the “littlun” by harassing him, but the remainder of publicly forced standards of behavior is still too strong for him to give in totally to his savage urges. At this point, Roger still feels forced by the facts and institution that put into result society’s good code. Before long, Roger and most of the other boys lose their respect for this army, and cruelty, agony, and put to death break out as the savage nature replaces the instinct for people among the group. Another quote from Chapter 4, “His mind was crowded with memories; memories of the knowledge that had come to them when they closed in on the struggling pig, knowledge that they had outwitted a living thing, imposed their will upon it, taken away its life like a long satisfying drink.” (70). this shows Jack’s mind condition in the result of killing his first pig, another highlight in the boys’ refuse into savage actions. Golding honestly connects Jack’s happiness with the feelings of control and power he experienced in killing the pig.
Chapter 5
All the way through Chapter 5 Golding uses literary devices to illustrate the scenery and precede the plot. Golding uses symbolism to advance the plot, “He says the beast comes out of the sea” (88). The beast is a symbol of the evil inside people, their ability to do violent and horrible things simply because they have the power to do so and also because they wish to do so. The beastie or snake-thing also symbolizes ridiculous fear of the unknown. It signifies the evil within us all. “What I mean is… maybe it’s only us” (89) Simon speaks these words in Chapter 5, during the talk about the beast. One littlun has consider the terrifying thought that the beast may hide in the ocean during the day and come into view only at night, and the boys argue about whether the beast might actually exist. Simon then proposes that the beastie is the boys themselves. Golding uses this to show that innate human evil exists. Simon is the first to realize the beast not as an external force but as a component of human nature. Intellectual is shown also, Now Ralph has begun to act like an intellectual after learning from Piggy. Ralph thinks and speaks with a certain logic as he points out the problems afflicting the group, reporting concerns which had already been raised earlier by Piggy, as he appeals to the boys to behave with reason in mind at all times. Already chaos and disorganization have grown more and more frequent--the boys are no longer heeding even common sense rules, such as no defecating near the fruit trees from which they eat. Second, in discussing the beast, Piggy assures them the beast doesn't exist, using reason. He says, "Life is scientific." According to science and normal thought, a beast such as they had all described could not possibly exist on the island without anyone having really seen it. In contrast, Jack resorts to foolish name-calling, dubbing them all of the littlun "cry-babies" for their fears; unlike Piggy, his words lack substance and facts, they merely talk his opinions. Piggy's mode of thinking is rational and leads to an actual understand of situations so that a decision can be found. This is what Ralph has begun to learn to do. Another literary device used is atmosphere which shown in chapter 5 when the beastie is truly introduced there is a lot of fear in the atmosphere. There are two major themes in this chapter; evil is an internal theme. Example, Simon says at the meeting: “What I mean is . . . maybe it’s only us.” The boys don't understand him and don't want to try; they still think it is a beast from water or beast from air. The second theme is that of order vs. chaos. The meeting indulgence is chaos, and nothing that Ralph, Simon or Piggy do can stop the crazy behavior going on around them. Even the conch shell loses its power as a symbol of power and respect.
Chapter 6
Golding uses literary devices to show the theme and advance the plot. First example Golding uses the symbolic significance of the parachutist in Chapter 6, the arrival of the parachutist in chapter 6 is the message from the world of adults which Ralph had hoped for in the previous chapter. If the boys had seen him clearly they would have been reminded that there was a whole world beyond the limits of their island and they might have been positive in their efforts to try and get rescued. Ralph's position as leader would have been better and his efforts to improve their lives might have gained more support. Unfortunately the parachutist was mistaken for the beast, which turned the notice of the boys inwards towards the relationships of the island. They forgot about the outside world and the need to be rescued, which damaged Ralph's position as leader. This toughened Jack's attempts at gaining power to the loss of them all. Golding also uses metaphors, “He was surrounded on all sides by chasms of empty air”. Relates to the headline of the chapter “beast from the air”, the word empty might refer to the fact that the beast from the air really isn't a threat. Another metaphor, “on the right hand was the lagoon, troubled by the sea. The lagoon has been a safe place for the boys from the very beginning, the sea is a scary place and it symbolizes the unknown. By saying the lagoon is troubled by the sea Golding emphasizes the contrasts between the two places. Golding also uses, “far beneath them, the trees of the forest sight, and then roared. The hair on their foreheads fluttered and flames blew sideways from the fire. Fifteen yards away from them came the plopping noise of fabric blown open.”() Note the way in which the forest is alive through the way it is said to "sigh" and "roar." Clearly we imagine the forest as some kind of threatening creature, and the onomatopoeia in the words "sigh" and "roared" also add to the fear that Sam and Eric are experiencing. In the next paragraph, the "flailing fire" is referred to, which is an example of alliteration that again helps add to the tone of terror as Sam and Eric become ever more terrified with what they see and hear. Theme is also shown in chapter 6 which is overcoming fear Mankind in this book are wild and un-supervised. When Ralph tries to make points at the meeting, the boys laugh and ignore him. Also the boys fear the beast so much that they do not worry about their own survival needs, like fire. The littuns in the book are wild and do not follow commands which makes them the beasts. Golding also uses an allusion in chapter 6, here are many biblical allusions such as Simon representing Simon peter the disciple and the lord of the flies being the devil Beelzebub. The dead parachutist is the beast in the boys' mind, and this alludes to Revelations in the New Testament. The island as a whole represents the Garden of Eden, and the boys taint it with evil.
Chapter 7
Throughout Chapter 7 Golding uses literary devices to advance the plot or develop a theme. First example, the title of the chapter; "shadows and tall trees," is very much filled with imagery and feel of its name. Much of the novel describes the jungle and the mountain. The kids are looking for the beast. They often get distracted and play. The boys are happy as a group but alone they are scared. The shadows in the jungle represent their own secret doubts. Simon is the only boy who feels differently. Simon is not scared of darkness or shadows of the forest rather than that of the human character. The tall trees and thick plants of the jungle is a different world for the boys, it seems to bring out the shadows in them. We see this in the cruel play track and when Jack not so not seriously suggests that they pursue littluns. Golding also uses imagery again, “Here, on the other side of the island, the view was utterly different. The filmy enchantments of mirage could not endure the cold ocean water and the horizon was hard, chipped blue. Ralph wandered down to the rocks. Down here, almost on a level with the sea, you could follow with your eye the ceaseless, bulging passage of the deep sea waves.”(110) Golding describes the scenery with imagery so well, describing the water, “the filmy enchantments of mirage could not endure the cold ocean water and the horizon was hard, chipped blue.” Golding almost makes us feel like we’re there looking at the water. In chapter 7 the theme is also shown, Fear is not sometimes, but always present in the minds of a society, stable and organized or not. We see in this chapter that the idea of the beast is carried through; however, the beast appears in the boys’ minds. We, as the readers, start to question if the real beast is, if not one of the boys, then all of them, We also see that even if there was a strong, stable sense of government or democracy, the beast can and probably would still make an appearance in any form, in the end, fear is usual in any given situation. Imagery is shown, “Ralph could hear a tiny chattering noise coming from somewhere perhaps from his own mouth. He found himself together with his will, fused his fear and loathing into hatred, and stood up.”(114) this provides a much related description of the fear that is constantly in the back of the boys minds, and this shows us also how scared they really are. Ralph’s will paints us a picture of how much hatred and hate that the boys are actually experiencing and also puts in point of view what kind of toll this idea of the beast has on the boys and their society. All of these literary devices paint a picture, advance the plot, and develop a theme in a certain way using imagery, symbolism, and theme.
Chapter 8
Throughout chapter 8 literary devices were used to show meaning, scenery, or symbols. All of these advanced the plot or developed a theme. Golding in chapter 8 uses symbolism, The Lord of the Flies is the bloody, severed sow's head that Jack impales on a stake in the forest glade as an offering to the beast. This difficult symbol becomes the most important image in the novel when Simon confronts the sow's head in the glade and it seems to speak to him, telling him that evil lies within every human heart and promising to have some "fun" with him. (This "fun" foreshadows Simon's death in the following chapter.) In this way, the Lord of the Flies becomes both a physical sign of the beast, a symbol of the power of evil, and a kind of Satan figure who evokes the beast within each human being. Looking at the novel in the background of biblical parallels, the Lord of the Flies recalls the devil, just as Simon recalls Jesus. In fact, the name "Lord of the Flies" is an accurate translation of the name of the biblical name Beelzebub, a powerful demon in hell sometimes thought to be the devil himself. Another example, “There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And I’m the Beast. . . . Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill! . . . You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are the way they are?” The Lord of the Flies speaks these lines to Simon in Chapter 8, during Simon’s hallucination in the glade. These words prove Simon’s theory in Chapter 5 that perhaps the beast is only the boys themselves. This idea of the evil on the island being within the boys is very important to the novel’s searching of natural human savagery. The Lord of the Flies identifies itself as the beast and acknowledges to Simon that it exists within all human beings: “You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you?” The creature’s ugly language and odd mistreat of the boys’ slang (“I’m the reason why it’s no go”) makes the creature appear even more gruesome and devilish, for he mocks Simon with the same every day, familiar language the boys use themselves. Golding also uses foreshadowing in chapter 8, “The sow staggered her ahead of them, bleeding and mad, and the hunters followed, wedded to her in lust, excited by the long chase and the dropped blood.”(135) this shows how aggressive and wild the hunting group became. This foreshadows the future events. The boys do not have even an ounce of humanity left in them, and are considered to predators in the wild. Throughout chapter 8, the 'conch' acts as a symbol of authority and order. At the beginning of the chapter, 'the conch glimmered among the trees.' This is key to chapter 8 because the glimmering of the conch confirms its importance and the way it stands out in nature, symbolizes how right actions stand out from wrong actions.
Chapter 9
In chapter 9 Golding uses symbolism, imagery, and other literary devices. First example the conch as a symbol of power: “I’ve got the conch” “You haven’t got it with you…you left it behind. See, Clever.” Themes are also shown throughout chapter 8, “The tribe forms a chanting circle:”Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood” the tribe begins to act violent and begin to relive the killing of the pig. Another example, Jack and his tribe still chanting, and dancing are confused and believe Simon is the beast. They are consumed by savagery, so he is surrounded and beaten to death: “Simon’s dead body moved out towards the open sea.” Another example Ralphs insult: “who’s clever now? Where are your shelters? What are you going to do about that?” All these quotes express the theme of savagery. The second theme in chapter 9 is shown to, “Even at that distance it was possible to see that most of the boys-perhaps all the boys-were there. So they had shifted camp then, away from the beast.” Another quote, “And my hunters will protect you from the beast. Who will join my tribe?” All these show the fear of the beast. Third theme is about civilization vs. chaos. “Ralph does not want to lose the trust of the boys on the island. Jack splits the boys apart from Ralph’s authority causing chaos. “Who is going to join my tribe”… “I’m chief” said Ralph, “because you chose me.” Second quote, Jack uses the fear of the beast to gain power, Simon uncovers the beast but is killed before he can say anything failure to restore power in the island. Simon symbolizes hope for civilization and being killed causes chaos. “The beast was harmless and horrible; and the news must reach the others as seen as possible.” Third quote “I’ll blow the conch, “said Ralph breathlessly, “and call an assembly.’ “We shan’t hear it.’ Jack neglects Ralph who is trying to assure his power. There is symbolism also shown again The Lord of the Flies, the sow's head, symbolizes how powerful evil is, so powerful that the boys, representing society, succumb to evil rather than good. Like Satan, the Lord of the Flies is able to bring the boys to evil. Simon, the only pure soul, is Jesus, trying to save the other boys from themselves. The text describes Simon's dead body through symbolism, using detail of nature to make him holy and beautiful. Everything glows around his dead body: "a streak of phosphorescence" shines in the water, and when the water touches the blood stains of his body, "the creatures made a moving patch of light," eventually Simon's rude hair with brightness. The line of his cheek silvered and the turn of his shoulder become sculptured marble." These details of light contrast simply with the darkness that otherwise pervades the novel, and the details of dirt and filth that characterize the other children. Light, then, is used to symbolize the purity and saintliness of Simon's dead body.
Chapter 10
Throughout chapter 10, literary devices are used to show a theme or advance the plot. Golding uses imagery to describe the conch; “...the fragile white conch still gleamed by the polished seat.”(155) “At length Ralph got up and went to the conch. He took the shell caressingly with both hands and knelt, leaning against the trunk.” (156) “...Ralph, cradling the conch, rocked himself to and fro.” (157) “‘I thought they wanted the conch...’” (168) “The conch still glimmered by the chief’s seat.” (168) “‘I know. They didn’t come for the conch.’” (168) these quotes from chapter 10 all describe the conch in literal and symbolic meaning. The conch, throughout the whole book represents order and democracy. A power of keeping things stable through strong leadership and insight. Chapter 10, however shows the conch losing its power, Golding shows this loss of power as the conch loses color. Only Ralph and Piggy see the goodness of the conch. We can see that in the beginning of the book as they are the first ones to gain an interest in the conch and also the first ones to blow it. Golding shows that the conch is rejected by communism, as Jack’s tribe does not care for the conch but rather take Piggy’s glasses. Jack does not care for order or chaos. He is too shortsighted and believes in the idea of dictatorship, the idea that he must be the only ruling force. Golding also uses the Glasses again as a symbol in chapter 10, “...he saw more clearly if he removed his glasses and shifted the one lens to the other eye; but even through the good eye, after what had happened, Ralph remained unmistakably Ralph.” (155) “Piggy took back his glasses and looked at the smoke with pleasure.” (162) “He was a chief now in truth; and made stabbing motions with his spear. From his left hand dangled Piggy’s broken glasses.” (168) the glasses are symbolic of the advances the can be made by man. Throughout the whole novel the glasses were used for fire, the fire was needed for their rescue. The glasses are also the only characteristic to Piggy other than his reasoning and his logic. He is the only one on the island that cannot run, has poor vision, and cannot carry out simple work. Another symbol in chapter 10 is the fire, “‘four of us. We aren’t enough to keep the fire burning.’” (Golding 158) “‘We don’t want another night without fire.’” (Golding 162)
“This was the first time he had admitted the double function of the fire. Certainly one was to send up a beckoning column of smoke; but the other was to be a hearth now and a comfort until they slept.” (Golding 162) “Piggy took back his glasses and looked at the smoke with pleasure.” (Golding 162) “Ralph tried indignantly to remember. There was something good about a fire. Something overwhelmingly good.” (Golding 163) “Ralph stood up, feeling curiously defenseless with the darkness pressing in.” (Golding 164) “‘Let the fire go then, for tonight’” (Golding 164) the fire is a representation of salvation or destruction, Golding symbolizes the fire as a delicate energy or power.
Chapter 11
Chapter 11 shown a lot of literary devices in the passages which move forward the plot or the theme. First example, “Piggy’s arms and legs twitched a bit, like a pig’s after it has been killed” () this quote symbolizes piggy’s death to a pig’s death. Second example, “We should be looking like we used to, washed and hair brushed—after all we aren’t savages really…” () This quote represents imagery because we can imagine how many the boys have changed since they first got to the island and how they are now. Theme is also shown in the chapter, without civilization all order will be lost. In the beginning of this novel everybody was very civilized but as time passes on everybody starts losing their innocence and civilization starts to crumble. Symbolism is shown early in chapter 11, Piggy says he's going to Jack, holding out the conch (the on-going symbol of order) asking for his glasses back because "what's right is right". It's the last major attempt at civilized behavior. The fight that results on Castle Rock symbolizes the clash of good v. evil, of civilization v. savagery. Piggy's death symbolizes that savagery won out. Symbolism again is shown, “The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist. Piggy, saying nothing, with no time for even a grunt, traveled through the air sideways from the rock, turning over as he went […]. Piggy fell forty feet and landed on his back across the square red rock in the sea. His head opened and stuff came out and turned red. Piggy’s arms and legs twitched a bit, like a pig’s after it has been killed.” The conch is destroyed, marking the end of law and order on the island. As the law ceases to exist, so does Piggy. Theme is also shown in chapter 11; everything goes down at Castle Rock. It is Ralph and Piggy's final attempt to get through to Jack and the boys. There is a sense of bravery in this chapter. It is a stopped fight, an offering of friend the novel's major symbol of civilization, the conch shell, appears in this chapter only to be destroyed after Roger pushes the boulder onto Piggy. These key acts provoke and foreshadow Ralph's destruction of the Lord of the Flies, the primary cultural symbol of Jack's tribe ship to a power that wishes to destroy. In many ways it is evil victory over good.
Chapter 12
Final chapter of the novel Golding uses literary devices throughout chapter 12. First example, “Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of a true, wise friend called Piggy.” These lines from the end of Chapter 12 occur near the close of the novel, after the boys meet the naval officer, who appears as if out of nowhere to save them. When Ralph sees the officer, his sudden understanding that he is safe and will be returned to civilization push him into a deep sadness. The rescue is not a moment of clear joy, for Ralph realizes that, although he is saved from death on the island, he will never be the same. He has lost his honor and learned about the evil that lurks within all human beings. Here, Golding openly connects the sources of Ralph’s depression to two of the main themes of the novel: the end of innocence and the “darkness of man’s heart,” the being there of savage instincts lurking within all human beings, even at the height of society. Irony is also shown, ironically, the massive fire and smoke enabled the ship to see them. As the boys gather around, the officer comments on how it must be all are fun and games. Some of the boys are crying, realizing what they've done. The officer sees the spears and asks, "We saw your smoke. What have been doing? Having a war or something?" He learns that two children have been killed and they are taken off the island to the waiting cruiser. As they are taken away, "...Ralph cried for the end of innocence, the shadows of man's heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy." Golding also uses metaphors, The metaphor and alliteration in the same sentence describing Ralph in chapter 12 of Lord Of The Flies in when "Ralph launched himself like a cat; stabbed, snarling, with the spear, and the savage doubled up!” At the end of chapter 12, after the arrival of the naval officer, Golding uses the reaction of the officer and the behavior of the boys to create a metaphor about the nature of man. Here is irony the naval officer who arrives to rescue the boys is initially horrified at the way the boys have behaved and at how their civility had degenerated. The irony is that the officer realize the same qualities as they boys: he is civil and human, and simultaneously an officer in Britain's armed forces, an organization whose main purpose is to kill. The naval ship in which the officer arrives serves as a symbol of war and destruction like to that Jack and the hunter wrecked upon the boys. The sentence in which this contrast becomes clear is, "He turned away to give them time to pull themselves together; and waited, allowing his eyes to rest on the trim cruiser in the distance." Like Ralph, the officer clings to a set of laws of civilization he does not understand. Jack, he unquestioningly follows his individual desires.