Contrast the description of Simon’s last journey out to sea with that of his murder earlier in chapter nine. What suggestions is Golding making about the role of this character in the novel?
When Simon’s life comes to a dramatic end in chapter nine of the novel the digression of the boy’s behaviour into viscous savages is all too clear. Through Golding’s language and description the event is brought harshly to life and reading of their actions the reader finds themselves completely forgetting of the boys behaviour at the start of the novel. Despite this haunting description of Simon’s death at the hands of his companions, the passage of writing following this is sharply contrasting to this. By altering the use of words and overall language Golding is able to create a wholly different atmosphere regardless of the previous passage illustrating a truly harrowing event in the novel.
The tension leading up to Simon’s murder is gradual and extremely effective and this is partly achieved through Golding’s use of the weather in the passage leading up to the death. Through phrases such as’thunder exploded’, ‘flickering light’, ‘threat of the sky’, and ‘blows of the thunder’ Golding succeeds in signalling a long awaited dark climax to the boy’s savage behaviour.’The thunder exploded again so that a littlun started to whine’. Golding uses, as previously in the novel, the littluns as an indirect sign that trouble is looming on the island.
‘”Do our dance! Come on! Dance!”’ signals the start of the description leading up to Simon’s death. The weather remains a feature, ‘Between the flashes of lightning the air was dark and terrible’ and controls the mood, worsening alongside the events of the novel, ’Under the threat of the sky’. The boys’ savagery is prominent whilst hunting Roger, no words are used except a developing steady chant,’A circling movement developed and a chant’.’Found themselves eager to take a place in this demented but partly secure society’ This is an extremely symbolic sentence amidst the growing tension of the chapter. It is altogether too blatant to the reader that Jack’s society is far from healthy for a group of young boys, although in the situation they are in Jack has created a sense of security for the boys and littluns through fear and savagery.’Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!’ The chant developed by the boys already used previously in the novel is spoken excitedly and playfully although the chant is centered around the boys’ digression from a civilised existence to an animal like state. Unlike before when the chant referred to the pig, ‘Kill the pig! Cut her throat! Spill her blood!, the chant is now directed at the beast. They are not now wishing to kill for food or pure amusement but through the beats presence as a subject of discussion and argument amongst the boys in the novel it is recognised that this killing is one of a greater significance. ’The chant lost its first superficial excitement and began to beat like a steady pulse’ Through these words Golding makes it clear that he playfulness and amusement gained through hunting and killing has developed into a state. Through Jack’s influence the boys have become one single hunting object and the activity of hunting has become one of the only constant things for the boys to rely on. ’There was a the throb and stamp of a single organism’, the boys are unmistakably powerful as one and fear is injected into the novel in the realisation that the boys can carry out anything they want without the question or influence of anything or anyone else. The throbbing reminder in the backs of their heads that parental supervision and authority is not present but is something to be aware of has slowly vanished and through the termination of this barrier the boys are no longer restricted within themselves against wrong doing.
