Sunday, October 30, 2011

In The Lord of the Flies how does Jack give the boys a feeling of protection?When they join in Jack’s tribe why are they less scared?

I think the answer to this question comes most clearly at the assembly when Jack breaks off from Ralph and starts his own tribe, installing himself as chief. Ralph shouts...



“Because the rules are the only thing we’ve got!”
But Jack was shouting against him.
“Bollocks to the rules! We’re strong—we hunt! If there’s a beast, we’ll hunt it down! We’ll close in and beat and beat and beat—!”
He gave a wild whoop and leapt down to the pale sand. At once the platform was full of noise and excitement, scramblings, screams and laughter.



Fear has gripped the boys: they are all terrified of the beast, and of danger - though, ironically, not at all terrified of the prospect of never being rescued: it's only Piggy and Ralph who really understand that fear.


Ralph's insistence on the signal fire and on being rescued is rational, and, in fact, the best way to get them rescued. But it doesn't address the boys' fear of the beast.


Because Jack can hunt and kill pigs, he's in a position to claim he can better defend the boys against the beast. He's got violence on his side: he can "hunt it down! We’ll close in and beat and beat and beat—!”". He draws the boys together into a strong team of hunters.


And that's why Jack's tribe seems to provide more security against the beast - and reduce fear.

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