This democratic society does not last very long as the children mainly Jack show no respect for the conch and the idea of rules. We can see this when Jack decides that they shouldn’t use the conch anymore this is the point in which he sees it as inferior,
We don’t need the conch anymore; we know who should say things.
As the conch represents democracy we can see that civilisation on the island is beginning to break up and savagery is starting to take control. We can also see a break up in society this is when Jack says, “Bollocks to the rules!” Here we can see that Jack contradicts himself while managing to degrade the power of the conch. Golding has purposefully made the two boys act similar at the beginning of the novel to show us how normal they appear. This shows how Golding believes that absolutely anyone can be tempted to become savage with power, exactly like jack.
After this there is continual conflict between Ralph and Jack. We can see this when Jack proclaims that Ralph “Isn’t a proper chief.” Golding is trying to state that this conflict is very similar to the conflict between everyone alive. We can see this in the masks that Jack and his hunters wear, “He rubbed the charcoal stick between the patches of red and white on his face” The dark line of charcoal between good the White and the evil red. These masks also let the boys hide their guilt and shame of the savage behaviour they show.
The mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness.
We can see that the mask provokes Jacks irrational behaviour, which helps him channel power. Camouflages are used in warfare, which clearly links his new identity as a shameless killer to the adults fighting wars.
Golding shows that there is good and evil in all of mankind and uses the fire as the centre point in the war between good and evil. The fire gives a sense of hope (the hope of rescue) or on the other hand it brings nothing but Death and Destruction.
The Savagery of man can be shown not only by the older kids on the island but by the way the little’ uns enjoyed their battle advantage over their kill
The knowledge that they had out whited a living thing, imposed their will upon it and taken away it’s life like a long satisfying drink.
Golding has written this to show that further improve his point that everyone has a savage side even “innocent” unsuspicious little children that is hidden by society. The big’uns (Roger and Maurice) torment the little’uns by destroying their sand castles but they still hear the voices of adults in the civilisation they had left behind. Roger throws rocks at Henry, but he throws them so they totally miss this is because his conscience reminds him of parents and the rules they enforce.
Towards the beginning of the novel Jack was not able to kill the pig he pauses on the killing blow.
The pause was only just long enough for them to realise what enormity the downward stroke would be.
This is the only weaknesses that Jack shows in the entire book and shows that his savage side rapidly develops into madness and loss of control. He says to the boys “Next time.” this shows us that he cannot accept weakness in himself. Further on in the novel when the boys kill a sow we are shown the boys were, “wedded to her in lust” This shows us that the boys have developed a greed for hunting. The sows death and decapitation emphasises the need for evil. The most savage thing of all is the chant
Kill the beast, cut her throat, bash her in
We can see how hunting is similar to a playground game for them. Later on the “game” turns into a “desire to hunt and kill” and becomes, “over mastering.” This shows us that the boys including Ralph are turning more and more savage, as they become unable to control their need to cause death.
Just before Simon’s death Golding frequently writes that Jack, “Waved his spear”. This is a significant change in attitude because the conch was the object of attention, but now it is Jacks spear. This shows that the boys are not interested in democracy but are rapidly becoming a part of jack’s savage ways
When Ralph announces he will blow the conch Jack replies, “We shan’t hear it.” This shows that Jack no longer wants to be ruled but wants to do the ruling himself. This is an example of how animal like he is as animals are only different from us because they cannot speak and this shows how people can choose to ignore the fundamentals that make us human.
Even Ralph and Piggy are shown to have a savage side
They found themselves eager to take place in this demented but partly safe society.
This demonstrates Golding’s view that everyone has a savage side to them and it can be revealed by a bad influence.
At Simon’s murder the boys “Leapt on to the beast, screamed, struck, bit and tore.” This is clearly supposed shows us that the boys have become evil barbaric creatures and have become unaware of their actions. Golding did not tell us straight away that Simon was the beast this could be because he wanted the reader to try and see things from the boy’s perspective.
As Simon was trying to tell the boys that the beast was just a myth and did not exist, his death symbolises that mankind can’t face the truth about what they so strongly believe is real.
In conclusion I think I have shown how William Golding uses the boy’s actions and words to communicate the savage nature of mankind.
