In chapter eight the 3 boys all react very differently and for different reasons, some of them crack under the pressure and fear created by the beast and some capitalise on the fear of the other boys for their own gain.

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"What do you Learn About Ralph, Jack and Simon, from their Reaction to the Beast in Chapter Eight?"

        In chapter eight the 3 boys all react very differently and for different reasons, some of them crack under the pressure and fear created by the beast and some capitalise on the fear of the other boys for their own gain.

        In chapter eight Ralph does not deal well with the beast. He acknowledges its existence and in doing so spreads fear amongst the other boys: "'The beast had teeth.'" He decides that it cannot be fought, therefore the boys have to hide from the beast and live under its shadow, rather than dealing with the problem: "'I don't think we'd ever fight a thing that size, honestly, you know. We'd talk, but we wouldn’t fight a tiger. We'd hide.'" Ralph's priority is to get off the island rather than to confront or fight the beast. His conclusion is that the only way to get off the island is to be rescued, his main concern is to keep the fire going in the hope that a ship may come past and rescue them: "'As long as there's light we’re brave enough. But then? And now that thing squats by the fire as though it didn’t want us to be rescued… So we can't have a signal fire… We're beaten.'" Ralph believes that they must make smoke, but is easily defeated by the beast, he lacks the insight to move the fire, and is beginning to lose his mind when Jack completes his take-over. Piggy has to constantly remind him midsentence of the point he is trying to make: "'The fire's the most important thing on this island, because, because -' He paused again and the silence became full of doubt and wonder. Piggy whispered urgently. 'Rescue.' ' Oh yes. Without a fire we can't be rescued. So we must stay by the fire and make smoke.'" He is losing his grip on reality, and fading in and out of concentration as his mind is asking so many questions at once.

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        We learn that Ralph does not want to stay on the island or to integrate himself into the island, he still has a strong desire to be rescued, and puts this desire at the very top of his priorities. He does not enjoy being the leader, and only does so because he feels it is necessary for him to stay in power for the group to remain democratic and ordered, but at the same time it is a terrible burden for him. In the end he cracks under the pressure and is unable to keep the group together. He begins ...

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