Shadows and Tall Trees

Dear Mother,

Character Journal Chapter 7

We almost had it! We almost had the pig! I had speared it in the nose, but it got away anyway. Stupid I for letting it go like that. He’s not a true hunter. But I was so proud of myself anyway, kept going on about how he speared the pig and whatnot. Well newsflash we’ve actually killed a pig before. So there! Ha on me! Anyway, after we speared the pig and it cough got away thanks to someone cough me. We were all annoyed, for obvious reasons. Then someone I think it was Robert suggested we act out spearing the pig again. It was a really fun game, and we got super into it. But I guess we got a little too into it because soon Robert was screaming in pain. He tried to be brave about it later though. Complained about his bum or something. Then I had this brilliant idea that we make it a ritual. We could have someone dress up as the pig and, you know, act and pretend to knock me over and stuff. But then Robert says we need a real pig for that ‘cost it has to be killed. Who needs pigs? Just use a littluns.

 It’s not like they do anything useful. All they do is eat, sleep, and play all day long. If I had my way I’d banish them to the other side of the island, quick as a wink. They’re a burden on all of us and I honestly don’t see why Ralph bothers about them. Speaking of them, or should I say, His Royal Highness did I mention that he was the one to let the pig go? And I may have mentioned this once, or twice, or maybe a gazillion times but I seriously hate the guy. I do, honestly. Maybe the sensible thing would be to talk it over with him, but those guys so dead set on his ideas that I doubt he would listen to me. Anyway, who needs talking? Just follow your instinct and you’ll turn out all right. Maybe not clean, but all right. We’re all absolutely filthy. I think Ralph noticed this too, ‘cost he was kind of eyeing his clothes, then ours while on the hunt. Oh well. I guess that comes from being stranded on a deserted island that usually over 100 degrees.

By the way, we saw the beastie today. Much as I hate to admit I was wrong, the beastie does in fact exist. Nearly ran into it I did. A gust of wind came by right at that moment, and I guess it smelled me or something ‘cost it sat right up and stared at me. It was dark at the time. Might just have been a trick of the moonlight, but I don’t think so. It was just like Samneric described. Big black eyes, huge teeth, monstrous claws… ugh it was absolutely horrid. Naturally as soon as I saw it I bolted down the hill to tell Ralph and Roger or was it Maurice? what I had found. You should have seen them run. Like little rabbits they were. Anyway, we all turned and fled down the mountain, and luckily I’m still here to tell the tale. We all are actually, but that’s beside the point. But we really need to hunt, and soon. So sorry about this but I might not write as often. A busy fellow like me who’s about to get even busier doesn’t have time to just sit down and record the day in a journal. So now I am signing off, maybe for the last time.

Signed,

Ralph

Beast from Air

Dear Mother,

Character Journal chapter 6

When the chapter begins, Sam and Eric have let the signal fire die out. It was there responsibility to keep it going, but they fell asleep. It says of Sam and Eric, “But they could never manage to do things sensibly if that meant acting independently, and since staying awake all night was impossible, they had both gone to sleep” (84). The boys were irresponsible and did not keep the fire going. There were planes fighting overhead and maybe the fire could have been seen. Most of the boys don’t seem to be taking getting rescued too seriously. They let the fire go out again. If they understood how important it was they would be more trustworthy. Ralph is the only one that is constantly thinking about the fire. When Ralph says they need smoke, Roger shouts, “We’ve got plenty of time!” Roger and the other boys aren’t showing enough concern about the signal fire. They are more interested in having fun and rolling rocks off of cliffs.

Also, while Sam and Eric were walking up the trail, they see something in the shadows. They think it’s the beast as the head bobs up and down, but they can’t see it clearly. When they get back, they exaggerate about what they saw. They tell the other boys, “It was furry. There was something moving behind its head – wings” (88). The boys are letting their fears get the best of them. They didn’t see eyes and claws the way they say. Fear is starting to take more control over the island.

Ralph is barely hanging onto control. When they are debating whether to go back and make the fire, he has so scream, “No! I’m chief. We’ve got to make certain…Are you all off your rockers?” (95) Even though boys then do go back to the mountain to make the fire, Ralph is hanging on to his power by a thread. More boys are starting to question him, and to follow Jack.

Symbols

The beast: The beast seems to represent fear. The boys’ fear is getting worse, and their ideas about the beast are getting worse. They are making assumptions of the beast based on fear, and not facts.

Conch: The conch, which represents civilization and order. In this chapter, Jack says, “Conch! Conch!…We don’t need the conch anymore. We know who ought to say things. What good did Simon do speaking, or Bill, or Walter? It’s time some people knew they’ve got to keep quiet and leave deciding things to the rest of us” (89). The conch is starting to lose power and Jack is saying they should end the rule about letting anyone who has it to talk. The conch is becoming less important because order is becoming less important to the boys.

Predictions

I think Piggy will become leader because he has the best ideas.

Beast from Water

Dear Mother

Character Journal chapter 5

            Jack came today, with Maurice and Robert. They told us they were having a feast, and we could come if we wanted to. I fear Samneric, being littluns, will go with their short-term instincts and join Jack. All the littluns will probably go, leaving me, Ralph and Simon. I’m still concerned with him; he spends so much time alone in the forest. He’s cracked, something is eating at him. And the fire can’t go in the best location, it’s down here. It’s like its lower, not as important to everyone. Everything was starting off so well.

How could it all come to this? The boys are not very serious in the meeting and are not doing their jobs. I tell the boys, “We need an assembly. Not for fun. Not for laughing and falling off the log. Jack goes on to complain that the kids aren’t getting fresh water from the stream for drinking, they aren’t helping build shelters, and the boys aren’t using the correct place for the lavatory.

Ralph has told them about the importance of these things, but the kids aren’t listening. But Jack gains the trust of the kids because he offers them protection. Jack speaks without the conch, breaking the rules by not having it.

 With faith

Ralph

"Painted Faces and Long Hair"

Dear Mother,

Character Journal chapter 4

          I’m worried about Simon. He goes off and spends so much time alone with that pig head in the clearing. It’s almost like he’s talking to it or something. Ralph’s worried too, but not about Simon. We were talking on the beach, and he said he can’t understand why no one believe that without a fire, we’ll die here on this island. It’s Jack’s fault, for causing trouble and trying to annoy Ralph. Samneric aren’t much good here. They want to leave for Jack like the rest of them. They believe he’ll help them and give them food.

Can’t they see by separating, we’re killing ourselves? In another instance Roger refrains from throwing stones directly at Henry. This shows he is still somewhat civilized.  Prediction: These uncivilized acts could lead to jobs not being completed in future chapters and many more occurrences where they fail to signal rescuers. Things heat up between Ralph and Piggy when Piggy thinks they should make a sundial but Ralph says no in a rude and sarcastic way.

With love

Ralph

"Huts on the Beach" by the shore

Dear Mother,

 

Character Journal chapter 3

We haven’t seen Simon yet, but we did find out what happened to the 3 boys who left for Jack. Under his leadership, they’ve formed a hunting tribe. Apparently, they made a kill today, even though their brains are smaller than those of the pigs they hunt. It was a sow from Jack’s long-winded description. I feel bad for the piglets; they’ll surely die with no mother to take good care of them. In this respect, we’re piglets ourselves. No one to look after us, and if Jack continues on what he’s doing, fated to die here without rescue.

Piggy was having a meltdown and complaining that he couldn't see without his specs, but I could care less. We got fire! Everybody, including the littluns, was rushing to get firewood to keep the fire burning. But it was noted that there was no smoke, so no one would see us. Then that fat oaf Piggy started complaining about it and that we made a fire that was no good. I can't remember how many times I had to tell him to shut up.

He thinks he can say what he wants just because he has the conch. The idiot! Doesn't he know it doesn't matter when we're not on the island during a meeting?

Yours Truly

Ralph

"Fire on the Mountain" Dark Side

Dear Mother,

Character Journal chapter 2

Jack left, but he’ll be back before night, with no shelter and the Beast on the loose. I couldn’t believe there was a Beast before, but now I’m really not sure. After Jack left, Simon had the idea to go on the mountain and see if there really is a Beast there, like Samneric said. I said it wouldn’t do any good, and suggested we build a fire down here, by the bath pools. People seemed a bit happier, with some physical activity to distract them from Jack. After we made a small fire, we discovered Bill, Maurice and Roger had left, probably to find Jack. And Simon is gone. I fear he tried to climb the mountain himself.

The boys are not obeying specific essential rules. They refuse to work at building shelters, they do not gather drinking water, they neglect the signal fire, and they do not even use the designated toilet area. He restates the importance of the signal fire and attempts to allay the group’s growing fear of beasts and monsters. Littluns also wants to allay any fears of the beast. The meeting of course falls apart...

The boys drift toward Jack and chaos. Everything goes to fall! They end up looking for the beast but Ralph feels increasingly impotent. The boys argue with him and basically gravitate towards Jack.

Sincerely

Ralph

A fair-haired boy on the reef

Now that we have been here on this island for a couple of weeks everything starts to get worse. The littluns fear an imaginary beast and the begins, even Ralph, fear Jack. But it is another thing that makes me feel afraid, today they Jack, his hunters and Ralph did something that reminded me of religious rites. They danced and chanted and pretended that Roger was a pig and pretended to stab him with their wooden spears.

 Robert cried with fear but they didn’t seem to care. Even Ralph, who is one of the more intelligent ones on this island, took part in this game. Today there was a kind of excitement in the air that drove people mad. What would they do if they had really killed him? Would they even care? And, yet more important, what are they able to do? Will they really take a littlun, like Jack said? Will they kill a human being? I hope that we will be rescued soon. I can’t cope with this any longer. To be on an island together with foolish boys who think that they are adults and that their actions are reasonable. I don’t know how to tell them any longer that we won’t be rescued if there is no fire on the mountain. And there will be no fire as long as they believe that there is a beast on the mountain.

How can I show them that the beast only exists in their imagination? That the only beast in this island is some of us? What can I do to help the littluns and Piggy? Jack has changed so dramatically! Once he was a calm and friendly boy and now everyone fears him. I am too weak for this burden… I am too weak to stop him. What can I do? I don’t know! I think that something really dangerous will happen in the next few days if nothing important changes.  

Love

Ralph