Lord of the Flies Chapter 7 & 8

Chapter 7

• Simon reassures Ralph by telling him, "You'll get back to where you're from," emphasizing hope amidst chaos.
• Ralph exhibits excitement during the pig hunt, a surprise due to his civilized background.
• Robert is nearly killed during a mock hunt when the boys attack him with spears, showcasing the descent into savagery.
• Jack suggests using a smaller pig for their next hunt, indicating a shift towards cruelty.
• Jack, Ralph, and Roger climb the mountain and mistake a dead parachutist for the beast, showcasing their growing fear and misunderstanding.

Chapter 8

• At an assembly, Jack undermines Ralph's leadership by comparing him to Piggy, influencing the boys' loyalty over time.
• Ralph’s group consists of Piggy, Sam, Eric, Simon, and younger boys, while Jack’s group includes Roger, Robert, Maurice, and older boys, further splitting them.
• Ralph and Piggy build a signal fire on the beach due to fear of the beast on the mountain.
• Jack declares himself chief after the violent hunt for a sow, with Roger showcasing brutal tendencies.
• The Lord of the Flies, represented by a pig's head, symbolizes the boys' inner darkness and savagery.

Chapter 9

• Simon discovers the beast is merely the dead parachutist and attempts to inform the others, realizing the true nature of fear lies within.
• The boys, mistaking Simon for the beast, brutally kill him during a frenzied dance, highlighting the loss of innocence.
• Simon's body is carried away by a storm, signifying a dark shift in the island’s atmosphere.
• Ralph acknowledges their responsibility in Simon’s death, while Piggy labels it an accident, indicating differing perspectives on morality.

Chapter 10

• Ralph views Simon’s death as murder while Piggy avoids full acknowledgment, highlighting their psychological struggles.
• Jack emerges as a dictatorial leader, commanding ruthless loyalty and using intimidation tactics to maintain control.
• Jack's strategy involves stealing Piggy's glasses instead of fire, representing his desperation for power.

Chapter 11

• Piggy urges Ralph to confront Jack for the return of his spectacles, a symbol of reason and civilization.
• Piggy is killed when Roger pushes a boulder off Castle Rock, symbolizing the complete breakdown of order and civility.
• The conch shell shatters, representing the final loss of societal structure and the rule of law.
• Ralph prepares for a confrontation, realizing the extent of danger from Jack's tribe.

Chapter 12

• Ralph smashes the Lord of the Flies in frustration, illustrating his struggle against the savagery taking over the boys.
• Samneric inform Ralph of Jack's plan to hunt him, emphasizing the pervasive atmosphere of fear and violence.
• Roger sharpens a stick on both ends, indicating a grim intention to execute Ralph in a brutal manner.
• The story concludes with Ralph encountering a naval officer, who mistakenly believes the chaos was innocent play, highlighting the irony of adult society's disconnect with the boys' reality.

Themes and Symbols

• The conch shell symbolizes the fragility of civilization and order.
• The Lord of the Flies represents the inherent evil and savagery within humanity.
• Piggy’s glasses symbolize intelligence and the power of science and reason.
• The ocean embodies the unconscious thoughts and innate desires of human beings.

Character Insights

• Ralph embodies law, government, and civil society despite struggling against his primal instincts.
• Jack represents the pursuit of power and dominance, shedding the veneer of civilization.
• Simon symbolizes innate goodness and a deep understanding of human nature's darkness.
• Roger embodies the sadistic impulses within humanity, reflecting a descent into madness.

Perspectives

• The narrative is told from a third-person omniscient point of view, allowing insight into multiple characters' thoughts and feelings, contributing to the depth and complexity of the story.