The Lord Of The Flies Destruction Of — страница 3

rather than plants. They must kill to survive. Just because a rule is broken doesn’t mean chaos is certain to ensue. And simply because the boys disregard some orders doesn’t mean that they aren’t doing work according to new orders. The hunters need to hunt quite often in order to both feed the many boys and to practice this new skill that is so essential. “In a way you could say that the society the boys create on the island gradually changes. In the beginning of the book it is based on democratic values and equality – symbolized by the conch. It takes self discipline from the boys to obey the rules and work for the benefit of everybody. However, this proves difficult. In the course of the novel, the boys form a more autocratic and totalitarian society, where

discipline in the form of obedience and subordinance is required by the leaders (Jack, Roger, etc.) in order to maintain order.” (Myren) Yes, old roles and rules are being disregarded, but critics miss the fact that new roles and rules are being formed to better suit the boys’ situation. Simply because familiar regulations are no longer being followed doesn’t mean that new rules aren’t being forged and obeyed. Ralph and Piggy are singled out by the boys because they fit the stereotypes for persecution. “…there are violent crimes which choose as object those people whom it is most criminal to attack…the symbols of supreme authority and in biblical and modern societies the weakest and most defenseless…In addition…there are purely physical criteria. Sickness,

madness, genetic deformities, accidental injuries and even disabilities in general….” (Girard 15-18). Ralph comes to represent the supreme authority of British civilization. Humans tend to glorify someone and then blame them. (class notes February 3, 2000). He holds firm to the ideals of his native society while the other boys have reverted to a community of their own where those rules aren’t recognized. The boys can’t follow Ralph’s out-dated laws and also survive among the new society. Thus, Ralph represents a challenge to the new association and therefore he is quickly identified as a scapegoat. He must be removed in order for the society to thrive. His constant insistence on following old rules with impede the survival of the newer community. Piggy is one of the

weak boys because of his numerous disabilities. He is initially described as being “shorter than the fair boy and very fat.” (Golding, 2). He is constantly referred to in the first few pages as “the fat boy”. It is also revealed that Piggy has asthma. So he is physically deformed by his weight, his height, and his glasses and he is also disabled by his asthma. The weight, glasses, and asthma also leave him weakened. His heft and troubled breathing limit his ability to move and in turn to keep up with the other boys while his glasses leave him at a severe disadvantage because he can hardly see without them. He hinders the group because he can not keep up with the others and because he can provide no real service to the group. He takes from the work of the others, yet he

doesn’t do his share of the work. His only contribution is his glasses and they are just as effective when used by any other boy. The possession of those glasses also cause the persecution towards Ralph and Piggy. Jack’s boys want to be in control of their situation. They are already in a crisis situation where they are completely powerless, but now Ralph and Piggy refuse to let the boys have the glasses which are necessary for fire and therefore survival. They aren’t content with the idea of Ralph sharing the fire. They have no control over the natural causes that brought about their disaster, therefore, they long to control the material things within their world. “The search for people to blame continues but it demands more rational crimes; it looks for a material more

substantial cause.” (Girard 16). The children are already angered by being stranded, but they can do nothing about that. They are also angered when Ralph and Piggy refuse to give up the glasses, therefore, all the anger they feel towards the intangible forces that left them stranded is focused on the material object and situation before them. They can do nothing about being deserted, but they can steal the glasses and attack the dissenters. So rather than feeling helpless, the children feel as if they have control over their immediate environment. Therefore, both boys are perfect targets for Jack’s band to turn against. Often, critics focus on the violence among the boys as a sign that the group has completely fallen apart, however, this is not true. “As action progresses,