However this gradually changes throughout the novel as the boys begin to do their own thing, ignoring the rules set by Ralph and Piggy, who gets upset when the other boys do not follow the rules. He refers to them as a “pack of kids” and suggests they “act proper”. Ralph wants to have fun like everyone else but other than Piggy, is the only one that understands the need for rules and discipline. At first Jack decides the idea of rules would be a good thing as they are “not savages” which is ironic in comparison to how he behaves later on in the novel.
Violence begins to break out over the responsibilities of the fire. They each have their own responsibility to keep it going, and Jack and the “hunters” abandon their duties and hunt for a pig. The fire goes out, and when Piggy reminds Jack of his duty he hits him in the head and breaks his glasses. The broken glasses is a symbol of the break in friendship, civilized behaviour and responsibility within the group. Ralph is observing the rules he has laid out are “slipping away” and understands the consequences which can arise because of this, but he has no way of stopping the “hunters”.
Jack begins to start his own pack to hunt, feast and “have fun”, the majority of the boys join his group and forget about the priority of being rescued. The boys seem to enjoy inflicting pain on animals after viciously slaughtering a sow with their basic fears and group instincts controlling them. This vigorous behaviour leads to the death of Simon, who is mistaken for the “beast” Golding describes the actions of the boys by the “tearing of teeth and claws”, a metaphor for animal behaviour among the “hunters”. Jack has become leader of his pack and inflicts violent punishments to re-enforce his rules, this is demonstrated when he ties Wilfred up and beats him. Roger later kills Piggy, smashing the last symbol of civilisation, the conch.
The “hunters” decide to “kill the beast” replacing their sinister chant of “kill the pig”, this indicates the beginning of the man hunt towards Ralph. Jack calls the dancing and chanting “our dance” implying he is the ruler of the island and uses “ululation” as they hunt down Ralph, the only civilised member of the population of the island. Ralph becomes upset that dirty clothes have become “normal” and realises that the boys have lost their standards and values.
The change from the friendship and discipline in the beginning of the novel to the violence leading to death presented in the end of the novel is a gradual change, which as a reader, you don’t seem to notice as the book goes on, you forget about the friendliness at the beginning because of the gripping language and description of the events.
