Lord of the Flies Chapter 7-12 Quotes

Chapter 7: Shadows and Tall Trees

• Simon reassures Ralph, telling him, "You'll get back to where you're from," highlighting Simon's supportive nature.
• Ralph's excitement during the pig hunt contrasts with his civilized demeanor, indicating the emergence of primal instincts.
• During the boar hunt, Robert nearly gets killed when the boys mistake him for the boar, showcasing the group's growing savagery.

Chapter 8: Gift for the Darkness

• Jack suggests using a smaller pig for hunting, illustrating the escalation of violence and manipulation of power.
• Jack, Ralph, and Roger explore the mountain at night, seeing a deceased parachutist they initially mistake for a beast, reflecting their fears.
• Jack undermines Ralph's leadership at the assembly, initially failing to rally his followers but eventually succeeding later.
• Ralph's group is fragmented, with Jack leading the larger, more savage boys, while Ralph retains a smaller, more civilized faction.

Chapter 9: A View to a Death

• Ralph and Piggy relocate the signal fire to the beach to avoid the perceived threat of the beast on the mountain.
• Jack declares himself chief after killing a sow, with Roger exhibiting extreme cruelty during the hunt.
• The Lord of the Flies, a pig's head encased in flies, symbolizes the boys' inherent savagery.

Chapter 10: The Shell and the Glasses

• Simon confronts the Lord of the Flies, revealing that the beast lies within the boys themselves, demonstrating internal conflict.
• During a storm, the boys misidentify Simon as the beast in their frenzied state and kill him, highlighting the theme of lost innocence.
• As the novel progresses, the conch shell’s destruction symbolizes the collapse of order and civilization among the boys.

Chapter 11: Castle Rock

• Ralph, carrying the conch, attempts to reestablish order in Jack's tribe by reminding them of the rules they once followed.
• Piggy's glasses, a symbol of clarity and knowledge, are stolen by Jack’s tribe, representing a complete loss of rationality.
• Simon’s brutal fate serves as a pivotal moment that underscores the theme of innate human savagery and fear.

Chapter 12: Cry of the Hunters

• Ralph becomes increasingly isolated, relying on the twins for information about Jack’s tribe plotting to kill him.
• Jack employs torture tactics to extract information from Sam and Eric, indicating the depths of brutality that have taken hold.
• The naval officer's arrival at the end reveals the boys' descent into savagery, contrasting their innocence and the violent chaos they created.

Themes and Symbolism

• The Conch Shell: Represents authority and democratic power; its destruction signifies the end of order.
• The Signal Fire: Symbolizes hope for rescue; its neglect correlates with the boys' descent into savagery.
• Face Paint: Represents the metamorphosis into savagery, allowing the boys to conceal their identities.
• Piggy's Glasses: Symbolize intellect and clarity; their destruction signifies the loss of rationality.
• The Beast: Represents the boys' fear and the primal instincts within; it is ultimately revealed as a manifestation of their internal darkness.
• The Dead Parachutist: Represents the chaos and violence of the adult world, highlighting the loss of innocence in the boys.

Important Quotes

• "The desire to squeeze and hurt was over-mastering." (The increasing savagery among the boys)
• "Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!" (The chant illustrating the collective descent into primal behavior)
• "Fancy thinking the beast was something you could hunt and kill!" (The realization of the internal beast within)
• "In the middle of them... Ralph wept for the end of innocence..." (Ralph's mourning for lost innocence amid chaos)