Chapters 10-12

The feeling given in the last few chapters is one of excitement and confusion. To put it into words would be to call it the musical term, a “crescendo”, which is the gradual buildup of excitement and actions to a peak. That is exactly what happens as the kids on the lone island fight for their lives. The crescendo starts at the beginning of chapter 10 when Simon is killed, and Ralph is asking Piggy “Are you the only one left”(171)? Ralph is beat up and learning how mad the others have gone, and is concerned for he thinks that there my be very little population who do not follow Jack. There is still the regular increase of tension between Jack and Ralph, which is contributing to the crescendo. This tension is what leads to the hate and disgust between the two groups and the inability to work together. There is only one source of fire, and both want it, so the crescendo increases when they must battle to obtain Piggy’s specs. The one group wants the specs for a smoke signal, and the other group wanting it for making fire for cooking. The hunting group being more violent continues the crescendo when they decide to make an attack to obtain the specs. Ralph’s group gets a little “busted” (185) up a little, with a little blood spilt, but fought back and “smashed them up” (184) aswell. Jacks group was successful in obtaining the specs, giving foreshadowing that there could be a battle in the future with more loss. The crescendo keeps continuing to its peak as Ralph and his crew approach Jack that would lead to the death of Piggy. From there, samneric would be converted to Jacks group, and Ralph is all alone, until the whole group is rescued. This crescendo is a useful tool used by William Golding to show the increase of excitement and the building up of the climax. After the climax, the story settles itself in an orderly manor, restoring order to the children’s lives.