Friday, April 13, 2007
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.
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Interesting analysis on the motif you found, Kohl. I don’t believe I would have ever found this on my own! The beast is brought up many times in the story by Golding. The boy’s reaction to the beast is also interesting. I think you are right about their initial fears of the beast which slows over time and becomes more of an arrogance. In the beginning of the book, we see that the children are deathly afraid of the so-called beast, and do all they can to stay out of its way. As the story progresses, the children become less and less afraid of the beast and become careless towards it. I think the beast itself symbolizes the children themselves as they in a sense become beasts. I think the beast also represents the children’s arrogance. Though we do not know what exactly the beast is right now, it is interesting to imagine what will happen with the idea of it. Great analysis!
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