They climb out of the lagoon, when Piggy thoughtfully points out that they may never be rescued, not even by Ralph’s father who is a naval commander. He urges action: “We got to find the others. We got to do something”. Ralph remains dreary and indifferent, but notices an object lying in the lagoon, and Piggy identifies it as a conch shell. Piggy babbles on about its use, while Ralph blows several blasts. A straggle of boys emerge from the surrounding forest. Their leader is called Jack Merridew. He is indifferent to one of his choristers, Simon, who faints, and hostile to Piggy, whom he calls Fatty. Ralph wins popularity by revealing Piggy’s nickname, but then makes the serious suggestion that they need a chief. Ralph is voted for by the majority, over Jack who’s supporters vote with “dreary obedience”.
In a gesture of goodwill, Ralph tells Jack he can keep the choir, and Jack immediately announces they will be an army of hunters. Ralph, Jack and Simon explore the surroundings to see if they are on an island, while Piggy is left alone. Ralph now realises he has hurt Piggy, who is instructed to check the names of the survivors. The three boys are excited as they make their way through the jungle, discovering animal tracks and laughing and shouting with the joy of explorers. They climb onto a great rock to discover they are indeed on an island. They all share a sense of triumph and uplift of being on their own. On the way back, they discover a small pig entangled in creepers. Jack draws his knife but fails to kill the pig, which escapes. They all know that the real reason for this failure is the horror they all feel about killing a living creature. Jack, however, swears next time he will be merciless.
Piggy
“He was shorter than the fair boy and very fat”
“The fat boy hurried after him”.
“My auntie told me not to run”
“An expression of pain and inward concentration altered the pale contours of his face”.
“The fat boy’s grunts”
“Piggy was looking determined and began to take off his shorts. Presently he was palely and fatly naked”
“They’re all dead….an’ this is an island. Nobody don’t know we’re here. Your dad don’t know, nobody know------- His lips quivered and the spectacles were dimmed with mist”.
“Ignoring Piggy’s ill-omened talk, he dreamed pleasantly”.
“Suddenly Piggy was a-bubble with decorous excitement”
“Piggy spoke timidly”.
Ralph
“The fair boy began to pick his way as casually as possible towards the water. He tried to be offhand and not too obviously uninterested.
“The delight of realised ambition overcame him..he stood on this head and grinned at the fat boy”
“There was a mildness about his mouth and eyes that proclaimed no devil”.
“Bright, excited eyes”.
“Ralph shrieked with laughter. He jumped up and down.
“Ralph, looking with more understanding at Piggy, saw that he was hurt and crushed”.
Jack
“Inside the floating clock he was tall, thin, and bony: and his hair was red beneath the black cap. His face was crumpled and freckled, and ugly without silliness. Out of this face stared two light blue eyes, frustrated now, and turning, or ready to turn, to anger”.
“Intimidated by this uniformed superiority and the offhand authority in Merridew’s voice”
“This was the voice of one who knew his own mind”.
“Shut up, Fatty”.
“I ought to be chief, said Jack with simple arrogance”.
“Jack drew his knife again with a flourish”.
“Next time there would be no mercy. He looked round fiercely, daring them to contradict”.
