Chapters 4-6

These chapters show a lot of confusion and disruption. The whole group seems to be falling apart. The main symbol of this part is dissipation. As Ralph tries to keep the group together, everyone scatters. The work ethic, the conch, and the bonds between characters are breaking apart. People just stop doing their jobs, such as when a distant ship is seen on the horizon, Piggy says, "I can't see no smoke"(69) which if they had stuck to the plan, they could have been rescued that day. Ralph is enraged by the behaviours as other, and shows it as he is furious and announces, "They let the bloody fire out"(71). As chief, it is Ralph's job to pull everyone together in an assembly, and he uses recent examples show explain everyone’s actions. An example chosen was the shelters, and that "we all build the first one, four of us the second, and me ' n ' Simon build the last one over there"(85). The group of children also stops getting fresh water for everyone, and instead just drink from the river, and everyone also stops using the designated washroom and just goes where ever they want, and Ralph notices that the island starts getting dirty and unpleasant fast. During the accusing of the assembly the audience gets annoyed and there are large argument, which cause Ralph to blow the conch again to calm everyone and get their attention. The conch is passed around and everyone is talking during the time that someone has the conch, which breaks one of the few laws they have. The conch starts to lose its effectiveness as when people don’t like what someone is saying, they start talking and drowned out the person with the conch. Almost everyone someone new has the conch, everyone starts making noise and constantly Ralph has to say "Hear him! He's got the conch!"(96) but still everyone makes noise. Assembly after assembly, the same deal happens, until finally Jack says "we don’t need the conch anymore"(110). The conch is rendered useless after no one will listen to it anymore. The conch brings tension to the friendships and causes issues in who is worth listening to and who isn’t. Jack and Ralph are constantly arguing about hunting and the fire, and they feel at times that they do not like each other. Also Jack shows constant dislike towards Piggy, and even says, "Who cares what you believe - Fatty!"(97). In addition, the big kids are constantly annoyed with the little kids, who sit around and do nothing all day. There is lots of name calling in assemblies and cutting the little kids short when they have the conch to talk. All of these conflicts make me believe that the beast of the island is everyone on the island, and there will be evil events that happen between everyone. The group seems separated from each other, and at times, almost in full out chaos. If they plan on living on the island together peacefully, they will need to iron out the wrinkles in their friendships, and work together to get rescued.