Lord of the Flies: The Novel Study

Synopsis

Ralph calls a meeting in an attempt to restore order. A general agreement about respecting the rules is not reached. Instead, the discussion turns to fear of the beast. Jack rejects the island’s rules and leads the boys in a dance. Ralph contemplates abandoning his position as chief, but Simon and Piggy persuade him to stay on.

Discussion
1. As Ralph prepares for the meeting, his thoughts about the role of chief are revealed:
The trouble was, if you were a chief you had to think, you had to be wise. And then the occasion slipped by so that you had to grab at a decision. This made you think; because thought was a valuable thing, that got results... (p. 85).
a) Ralph believed that Piggy was the smartest person on the island. Would Piggy have been a better chief? Why or why not?
b) Is wisdom knowing all the answers, or being able to learn and take good advice?

2. At the assembly, Ralph re-establishes the existing rules, and puts forth one new rule.
a) What are these rules and why are they put in place?
b) Do these rules impose reasonable limits on the boys’ freedoms? Why or why not?

3. At the assembly, the debate turns to the beast.
a) Ralph says that the boys have to talk about their fear and realize that there is nothing in it. Is Ralph’s desire to openly discuss this a good idea?
b) When Jack reassures the group that there is no beast, he also belittles the littluns, calling them cry-babies and sissies. Is this the appropriate way to deal with the littuns’ fears? How is Jack’s approach different from his first discussion of the littluns’ fears of the beast.
c) Piggy claims that the world is scientific and that the boys should be safe “unless we get frightened of people” (p. 91). Who are the people that the boys should fear?
d) Simon claims the beast might exist but “maybe it’s only us” (97). What does he mean?

4. When Jack and the boys rush off in disorder, Ralph considers blowing the conch. Piggy believes that “You got to be tough now. Make ‘em do what you want.” Ralph decides that “If I blow the conch and they don’t come back, then we’ve had it. We shan’t keep the fire going. We’ll be like animals. We’ll never be rescued” (p. 101). Whose argument had more merit? Piggy’s or Ralph’s