Tuesday, December 7, 2010

In Chapter 8 of Lord of the Flies, there is a big "blow up" at the assembly. What does Jack do?


At the beginning of Chapter 8, the boys are discussing the existence of the beast. Ralph and Jack have both witnessed the beast and Ralph laments that they will never be able to have a signal fire on top of the mountain again. Jack suggests that his hunters can kill the beast, and Ralph's response is, "Boys armed with sticks?" (Golding 125). Jack is offended and clumsily blows the conch to hold a meeting. Jack begins by telling the boys that the existence of the beast has been confirmed, then tells them that Ralph said the hunters are "no good." Jack then compares Ralph to Piggy, who is unpopular amongst the group, and calls Ralph a coward. Jack holds the conch and asks, "Who thinks Ralph oughtn't to be chief?" None of the boys agree, and Jack asks the same question again. When no one raises their hand to agree that Jack should be the new leader, he puts the conch down and says, "I'm not going to play any longer. Not with you" (Golding 127). Jack invites the hunters to go with him and leave Ralph's group to hunt and start a new tribe. Jack turns and runs down the beach into the forest alone. Initially, no one follows Jack, but later on in the novel, the majority of the boys gradually join his tribe.

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