Chapters 7-9

In chapters 7-9, I noticed there to be many references to "the beast" of the mountain, in a way that is a motif. The beast, which is created by illusions and disbelief in the children’s minds, is a roadblock for the kids in how they cannot carry out their daily routines having to worry about the beast. Once they believe that there is a beast, they no longer want to go into the forest alone and they stick closer together. The beast initially creates fear in their minds, constantly thinking about how horrible this monster is, and makes everyone very cautious around everyone else. There is also a lot of taunting going on, and making fun of one another because of their fear of the beast. When one seems hesitant to lead the group somewhere in the forest, Jack might say "If you're frightened of course" (130), than you shouldn't be chief or the leader of us (directed at Ralph). Three of the boys go on a search for the beast and what they find brings more fear into the plot, and they say and believe that they have actually seen it. The increase of fear from the beast also created more and more tension between Jack and Ralph. Jack continuously taunts Ralph, and Ralph hates it. Ralph says to himself the he "heard the mockery and hated Jack. The sting of ashes in his eyes, tiredness, fear, enraged him"(132). The fear of the beast gradually decreases as the children start doing other things to preoccupy their time and take their minds off the beast. Eventually everyone is roaming the forests again hunting for pig and when catching pig, leaving a part of it behind for the beast. The decrease of fear made Simon go looking for the beast himself to see what was the truth. Determined to find an answer "he pushed on, staggering sometimes with his weariness but never stopping"(161). Simon discovered that there was nothing to be afraid of, but as he ran to tell the others, the others were not in a state of open ears.