Jacks standards and morals have been eroded. He claims that his war paint is for camouflage and will help him when he is hunting, “They don’t smell me. They see me.” He claims. Jack is excited by his new appearance. However the war paint removes him from his previous identity. The others are “appalled” as Jack “began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling.” He takes on primitiveness and leaves behind the rules and laws from his previous life.
The war paint mask appeared to be taking control “the mask was a thing on it’s own” and it “ compelled them” Jack had left behind his “shame and self consciousness.”
Piggy is trying to maintain a link with civilisation by suggesting they could make a sundial. However this is treated with sarcasm and ridicule from Ralph “and an airplane, and a TV set… and a steam engine.” Piggy, keen to be accepted misinterprets Ralph’s smile as a friendly gesture but Ralph becomes dismissive and moves away.
The boys suddenly realise that their fire has gone out and a ship passes by without seeing them. Ralph hears the hunting processions chanting led by Jack.
During the early days Jack could not bring himself to kill a pig. However killing has now become acceptable. The boys involved in the hunt have broken what was earlier, a taboo. Not only are they now prepared to kill, they actually take real pleasure in doing so “Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood.” Pg 72.
The behaviour on the island is becoming inhuman and barbaric. There is a danger that if the boys develop a desire for killing and their society becomes violent, they may be tempted to harm each other, not just the animals. It is noticeable that in this chapter, where a pig is killed for the first time, there is violence between Jack and Piggy.
Jacks attack on Piggy is a turning point for the moral code. Up until now, the potentially violent hunters have been restrained by the moral standards of the old life. Piggy who tries normally to avoid confrontation says to Jack “You didn’t ought to have let that fire out. You said you’d keep the smoke going-” Jack is angered by this and retaliates violently by punching Piggy in his stomach and with a vicious tone in his voice he shouts, “You would. Would you? Fatty”
Now Jack has set a really dangerous presidence. Violence is not only becoming increasingly more acceptable but Jack receives admiration from the other hunters. Jack is not punished for his violence towards Piggy and lack of punishment might encourage the other boys to injure or harm the more venerable children on the island.
Jack continues with his violent behaviour and smashes Piggy’s head. Piggys’s spectacles get broken and Piggy’s vulnerability is demonstrated here “I got to have them specs. Now I only got one eye. Jus’ you wait.” The as Jack moves towards Piggy, Piggy scrambles away and creates a barrier between him and Jack with a great rock. This also shows that Jack is not thinking logically as Piggy’s specs are vital for the signal and cooking fire. Jack then mocks Piggy and this behaviour makes the other hunters laugh. This encourages Jack even more. Ralph is angry with himself for smiling at the situation.
Jack later apologises for letting the fire out “I’m sorry about the fire, I mean. There. I-” The hunters admire this apology and it earns him more respect among the group even though his apology was not sincere.
This chapter shows the first signs of moral disorder and de-civilisation. The boy’s behaviour deteriorates and violence becomes acceptable. This may be because the boys need to survive on the island. They do not have the luxuries of their past life and they need to kill for food. In this environment you have to be strong to survive so Jack tries to assert himself and gain support from others. There are no written laws or rules of behaviour on the island and his is the reason why order breaks down. In civilisation there are laws and rules telling you how to behave otherwise you are punished.