Wednesday, September 4, 2013

In chapter 7 of Lord of the Flies, what embarrassing question does Ralph ask? Why is it embarrassing?

On page 118 of my edition, Ralph and Jack are getting into an argument about looking for "the beast," which many of the boys on the island now believe exist. Here's the exchange they have:



He [Ralph] took a step and halted.


"Wait a minute though! Where does the pig-run go to?"


"The mountain," said Jack, "I told you." He sneered. "Don't you want to go to the mountain?"


Ralph sighed, sensing the rising antagonism, understanding that this was how Jack felt as soon as he ceased to lead.


"I was thinking of the light. We'll be stumbling about."


"We were going to look for the beast."


"There won't be enough light."


"I don't mind going," said Jack hotly. "I'll go when we get there. Won't you? Would you rather go back to the shelters and tell Piggy?"


Now it was Ralph's turn to flush but he spoke despairingly, out of the new understanding that Piggy had given him.


"Why do you hate me?"


The boys stirred uneasily, as though something indecent had been said. The silence lengthened.


Ralph, still hot and hurt, turned away first.


"Come on."



So Ralph asks Jack the embarassing question, "Why do you hate me?", which Jacks leaves unanswered. It's embarassing because it points out that Ralph knows how Jack feels about Jack not being leader, and that Jack's actions on the island and his attempts to gain power haven't gone unnoticed. It also points out that Jack has emotions and can be hurt too, when he's tried to portray himself otherwise (Note the way that Jack insults Ralph by mocking Ralph's friendship with Piggy.)

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