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Fiction

Notes Ralph’s civilization has been destroyed than that it has been replaced by another, more primitive
but more warlike society. As the boys’ early days on the island mirrored the evolutionary
progress of early man, the boys’ final days mirror some aspects of the development of human
civilizations, which clash violently over religious and political differences.

Chapter Eleven: Castle Rock

On the beach Ralph, Piggy, and Samneric gather around the remains of the signal fire, bloody
and wounded. They attempt to rekindle the fire, but it is impossible without Piggy’s glasses.
Ralph, blowing the conch, calls an assembly of the boys who remain with them. Piggy, squinting
and unable to see, asks Ralph to instruct them about what can be done. Ralph responds that
what they most need is a fire, and he reminds them that if they had kept the fire burning they
might have been rescued already. Realizing the importance of Piggy’s glasses, Ralph, Sam,
and Eric think that they should go to the Castle Rock with spears, but Piggy refuses to arm
him. Piggy says that he is going to go find Jack himself and appeal to his sense of justice. A
tear falls down his cheek as he speaks. Ralph says that they should make themselves look
presentable, with clothes, to resemble boys and not savages.
Ralph and his boys set off along the beach, limping. When they approach the Castle Rock,
Ralph blows the conch, which he has brought with him, believing it will remind Jack and his
hunters of his rightful authority. He spots Jack’s boys guarding their camp, and he approaches
them tentatively. Samneric rush to Ralph’s side, leaving Piggy alone. Jack’s hunters, unimpressed
by the conch shell, throw rocks at Ralph and his companions and shout for them to leave.
Suddenly, Jack emerges from the forest, accompanied by a group of hunters who are dragging
a dead pig. He warns Ralph to leave them alone. Ralph demands the return of Piggy’s glasses,
and the two argue. Ralph finally calls Jack a thief, and Jack responds by trying to stab Ralph
with his spear, which Ralph deflects.
As Ralph and Jack fight, Piggy reminds Ralph what they came to do. Ralph breaks away from
the fight and tells Jack’s tribe that they have to give back Piggy’s glasses, because they are
necessary to maintain the signal fire on the beach. He reminds them that the fire is their only
hope for rescue. Frustrated by their indifference to his pleas, Ralph breaks down and calls
them painted fools. Jack orders the boys to grab Samneric. The hunters wrestle Samneric’s
spears from their hands and Jack orders them to tie up the twins. Ralph again screams at Jack,
calling him a beast and a swine and a thief. As they fight again, Piggy, yelling over the boys’
jeers, demands that he address the group.
Struggling to be heard over the commotion, Piggy asks the other boys whether it is better to
be a pack of painted Indians or to be sensible like Ralph. He asks if they would rather have
rules and peaceful agreement or be able only to hunt and kill. He reminds them of the importance
of Ralph’s rules, which are there to ensure their rescue. Above on the mountain, a frenzied
Roger deliberately leans his weight on the log that Robert showed him earlier, dislodging a
great rock, which begins to roll down the mountainside. Ralph hears the rock falling and
manages to dodge it, but Piggy can neither see nor hear its tumble. The rock crashes down on
Piggy, crushing the conch shell, which he was holding, on the way. The rock pushes Piggy
down a cliff, where he lands on the beach, dead.
The group falls into a sudden and deep silence. Just as suddenly, however, Jack leaps out of
the group, screaming deliriously. He shouts at Ralph that “that’s what you’ll get” for challenging
his authority and he expresses happiness that the conch is gone. Declaring himself as chief,
Jack deliberately hurls his spear at Ralph. The spear tears the skin and flesh over Ralph’s ribs,
then shears off and falls into the water. A terrified Ralph turns and runs, spears now coming
at him from different directions. He is propelled by an instinct he never knew he possessed.

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