As the novel Lord of the Flies came to a close, as a reader, I found that it was almost overly predictable. Ralph, who was deemed the protagonist throughout the book, ended up being proven correct in his constant insistence on having a signal fire. As the boys battle over Piggy’s glasses in order to control the lone source of making fire, fire itself becomes a symbol that represents power. True to the character traits developed earlier in the book, Jack desires to use this power for personal gain and luxuries such as cooking food. On the other hand, Ralph is hoping to use this fire and power to attempt to be rescued. The tension that has built up between Jack and Ralph creates a war of sorts between the two. Nearing the end of the book, Jack has taken almost everything from Ralph: his leadership, and his friends. Ralph’s last advantage over Jack is that he holds fire, a key tool for survival and rescue. As Jack is completely obsessed with overcoming Ralph, he goes after this fire and it becomes seen as a symbol of power. Jack builds himself up as a god and becomes so hungry for power that feels the need to possess everything that he does not have and take away everything from anyone else. Ralph is the lone person to stand up to him and is content with even using his power (fire) in a civilized fashion: to attempt being rescued. An eventual power struggle leads to fire spreading throughout the island and setting all the vegetation on fire. The struggle for power consumed both Jack and Ralph and proved to be too strong of a force to be contained. This fire brought them to a point where it seemed that their demise was inevitable. However, it ended up bringing them rescue. It can be suggested through this that only when power is used for something pure and for the greater good will positive results ensue.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Chapters 10-12: The Symbol of Fire as Power
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5 comments:
Jason, I would definetely agree with you that in the last three chapters the fire can be viewed as a symbol of power. Proof of this would be seen when the author states that "the fire was dying" (Golding 181) on Ralph's group of boys. When their fire was stolen by Jack and his hunters, they gained power over Ralph. There "was something overwhelmingly good about a fire" (180), parallel to how good and overpowering Jack felt when he stole the fire from the other group.
In chapter ten, Ralph explains the two functions of the fire: "Certainly one was the send up a beckoning column of smoke; but the other was the to be a hearth now and a comfort until they slept" (Golding 179). Jason, I would agree with you that the fire symbolized power, but also comfort. Before Ralph and his boys went to bed, the fire allowed for them to feel comforted and safe. Creation of hope to be rescused resulted from the smoke coming from the fire.
I strongly agree with your statement that the struggle for power on the island consumed both Ralph and Jack and it could no longer be contained. Insanity has taken over the island, and the reader was prepared for something harsh to happen in the last few chapters. Although this was true, the severity of the fire trying to kill Ralph actually ended up saving the boys. This was seen to me as being quite ironic.
Good evaluation of the last chapters Jason! =)
I would have to agree with everything both Jason and Kaela have already stated. The fire seemed to be a constant symbol in this story of the everlasting battle for power. Wherever the fire went it seemed that power followed. Initially when Ralph is chief and everyone is listening to him, the fire stays under Ralph’s control, but when Jack starts to acquire more power than Ralph the fire comes into jacks possession. Also I really liked the comment Jason made that “Jack builds himself up as a god and becomes so hungry for power that [he] feels the need to possess everything that he does not have and take away everything from anyone else”. This is so true, because Jack acted as a leader who ruled supremely and had everyone else as his servants. I guess one could say that Jack ran a totalitarian reign, while Ralph took more democratic means of running the assembly. Jack assumed all power and was unable to look out for actual beneficial acts for the assembly, it seemed he was only concerned with hunting and the ritual dances. “We’ve got work to do” (Golding178) demonstrates how Jack believes that stealing fire and other pointless acts are very substantial and important. He demonstrates his recklessness when “Jack and his hunters” (185) came to steal fire but also beat up the boys as well when they were defenseless. This demonstrates their lack of maturity and dignity. I think in some ways he believed he was a godly figure because of the power that he possessed. With all of his followers he became overly confident and cocky in believing he could accomplish anything. Eventually the fire, while it caused controversy and problems on the island is what saved them and for that they owe this very element their lives.
I agree with Jason completely when he said that the novel became very predictable. I knew from the beginning that the boys would be rescued and as I read further into the book it became increasingly more evident. Ralph was the person who was insistent about a fire as Jason said; yet Jack was the one who created that last fire. I found it interesting that Jack set the whole island on fire for the purpose of showing his authority and power and he ended up completing what Ralph was trying too. Personally, I did not think of fire as much of a symbol of power as it was a symbol of life. I agree that for Jack fire represented power, but for the rest of the boys it was so much more. Without fire the remaining boys would have never been rescued, which was the main idea of the novel. Fire is what helped Jack’s tribe cook their meat so they could eat. Not having a fire meant no light at night and this is what gave the boys hope during the dark nights. In these last few chapters, fire did represent power, but power would have not even have been possible without fire giving the boys life.
I agree with Jason’s last statement, but only if it is referring to Ralph’s deeds. Jack’s idea of power was not used for the greater good; it was only used to increase his authority.
Katie
Really good post Jason! I would like to comment on it solely because I actually thought the novel would end completely different and you thought it was utterly predictable. I believed that through the re-occurring event of Jack feeling a “black curtain” go through his head, which we were told numbed him and made him feel like giving up I thought he would become a part of the tribe. Either that ending or my more preferred one, that because of Jack and Ralph’s on going battles the two would come to a point in which a fight to the death was inevitable, and when Ralph won we would be led to believe the group would go on make smoke to be rescued but in fact because of Ralph experiencing carelessness and a new gained power he would run the tribe as scavengers once again and it would completely spin us on his character and his motives. This being said I do agree with your in depth comments on fire being the symbolism of power and what not but I would also like to present to you the symbol of the conch and its power it obtained for it was not until the conch was completely dismantled that all hell broke loose and all stale mates were off! Just something to think about and add to your symbolism conclusion.
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