What does Ralph do to the Lord of the Flies in Chapter 12? In William Golding’s iconic novel “Lord of the Flies,” Ralph, the elected leader of the boys, finds himself confronting a horrifying manifestation known as the Lord of the Flies. In a haunting encounter in Chapter 12, he stumbles upon a gruesome sight – a sow’s head impaled on a stake which the boys called the Lord of the Flies. This grotesque sight, now reduced to a gleaming white skull resembling the purity of the conch shell, elicits anger and disgust from Ralph. Driven by these emotions, he defiantly knocks down the haunting symbol and seizes its stake as a weapon against his rival, Jack. Thus begins an intense exploration of power struggles and primal instincts in this riveting tale that has enthralled readers for decades.
What does Ralph do to the Lord of the Flies? (Character analysis)
What does Ralph do to the Lord of the Flies in Chapter 12? In William Golding’s classic novel, Lord of the Flies, Ralph, the protagonist, finds himself confronted with a chilling and symbolic presence known as the Lord of the Flies. This encounter in Chapter 12 marks a turning point in Ralph’s understanding of the island’s darkness and his own descent into savagery. As he stumbles across the sow’s head in the jungle, now reduced to a gleaming white skull, Ralph is overcome by anger and disgust. In an act of defiance against this embodiment of evil, he knocks the skull to the ground and seizes its stake as a weapon against his adversary Jack.
The moment when Ralph encounters the Lord of the Flies is filled with haunting imagery that reflects both his emotional state and his realization of their dire circumstances. The text describes how he “stumbles” upon it, indicating that this encounter is unexpected and jarring. The skull is described as “merely a gleaming white skull—as white as the conch shell.” The parallel in this quote between the pure whiteness of both objects emphasizes their contrasting nature; while the conch represents order and civilization on the island, it becomes clear that evil lurks beneath its fragile surface.
Ralph’s reaction to this horrifying discovery reveals his commitment to maintaining order and sanity amidst chaos. He reacts with anger and disgust toward what he sees before him. His actions are described vividly: “Ralph knocked Piggy’s glasses from his face…he heard Piggy cry out in terror…the concussion of noise surged back again.” This physical act not only demonstrates Ralph’s revulsion but also foreshadows future confrontations with Jack and his followers.
However, it is important to note that Ralph does not stop at mere rejection; instead, he takes action against this symbol of darkness. By knocking down the skull and seizing its stake as a weapon against Jack and his hunters, who are armed with spears, Ralph shows strength in standing up to the forces of evil. This act is significant as it marks his transition from a figure of order and democracy to one who understands that he must confront the savage nature within himself and others.
Did Ralph destroy the Lord of the Flies?
While Ralph does smash the pig’s head, he does not destroy the real Lord of the Flies, which is the evil and chaos residing within each individual. In William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies, Ralph encounters the severed pig’s head mounted on a stick in the forest, which Simon dubbed the “Lord of the Flies”. The Lord of the Flies represents evil and chaos that resides within each individual. Although Ralph struggles with his inner darkness and temptation, he cannot destroy or get rid of this because it is inherent in every human. Instead, it remains as a haunting reminder of human nature’s capacity for destruction and savagery throughout the story.
Why does Ralph smash the Lord of the Flies?
Ralph smashes the Lord of the Flies, the pig’s head on a stick, because it has transformed into a disturbing symbol of the boys’ descent into savagery. The pig’s head represents their hidden violent instincts that have been unleashed on the island. As Ralph comes face to face with this grotesque figure, he realizes that it embodies all that has gone wrong and is a reminder of how far they have strayed from civilization. By destroying it, he hopes to rid himself and the others of this grim reminder and perhaps regain some semblance of order and sanity in their lives.
What did Ralph do at the end of Lord of the Flies?
At the end of the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Ralph is being hunted by the other boys who have descended into savagery. He manages to escape Jack’s hunters and finds himself on the beach, where he encounters a naval officer. The officer saw the island on fire from his ship and had come ashore to investigate. Overwhelmed with relief and emotions, Ralph breaks down in tears in front of his rescuer. The naval officer sees the chaos and destruction around them and asks Ralph if they are having a war. In response, Ralph nods and weeps for the end of innocence and civilization that has occurred on the island. As he brings the boys back to civilization, he is unable to understand how they could have acted so badly.
Does Ralph turn evil in Lord of the Flies?
No, Ralph does not turn evil in Lord of the Flies. Ralph’s character arc in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies depicts him as a protagonist who struggles against societal decay rather than succumbing to it himself.
Throughout the novel, Ralph remains a symbol of order, democracy, and civilization. He consistently advocates for the establishment and maintenance of rules and tries to keep the boys focused on their ultimate goal of being rescued. Despite facing numerous challenges and temptations on the island, Ralph remains committed to moral integrity and fairness. Even when confronted with the brutal reality of Simon’s murder, Ralph is haunted by guilt and remorse rather than embracing evil impulses. In fact, his final confrontation with Jack and his refusal to join his savage tribe demonstrates his unwavering commitment to goodness.
What does Ralph represent in Lord of the Flies?
Ralph represents civilization and democracy in Lord of the Flies. From the beginning of the novel, Ralph is elected as the leader by the group of boys stranded on the island. He is a natural leader who believes in establishing rules, maintaining order, and focusing on rescue. Ralph symbolizes democratic values by encouraging open discussions and allowing everyone to have a say in decision-making. He tries to keep the boys united and organized by implementing systems like using a conch shell for meetings. Ralph focuses on building shelters, building a signal fire to attract passing ships, and maintaining civilized society. Despite his flaws and moments of weakness, Ralph consistently demonstrates his commitment to civilization by prioritizing cooperation, rationality, and the common good over selfish desires or impulses.
Chapter 12 summary
In Chapter 12 of Lord of the Flies, titled “Cry of the Hunters,” the story reaches its climax. Ralph is hiding from Jack’s tribe in a dense thicket, fearing for his life. He falls asleep and wakes up to the smell of smoke. He realizes Jack has set the island on fire to flush him out of hiding. He stumbles upon the Lord of the Flies, a severed pig’s head on a stick that has been decaying. The pig’s head speaks to him, taunting him with the idea that evil lies within every human being.
Meanwhile, Jack and his tribe set fire to the island to flush out Ralph. As Ralph tries to escape, he comes across a British naval officer. Ironically, the officer came to the island in response to seeing the smoke generated when Jack set the island on fire. The naval officer is shocked by what he sees and expresses disappointment in how these boys have turned savage despite their supposed civilization.
Overall, Chapter 12 serves as a crucial turning point in the novel as it showcases the complete descent into savagery and chaos that has taken over the once-civilized group of boys. It also highlights how external authority and civilization still exist beyond their isolated island, further emphasizing their failure to maintain order and morality.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Ralph’s encounter with the Lord of the Flies in Chapter 12 represents a pivotal moment in the novel. His emotional reaction of anger and disgust reflects his growing understanding of the darkness that exists on the island. By knocking down the skull and seizing its stake as a weapon against Jack, Ralph asserts his defiance against evil. This action showcases his determination to maintain order and confront both external and internal threats. Ultimately, this confrontation sets Ralph on a path toward self-discovery, where he must face his own capacity for evil to survive in this savage world.