Lord of the Flies: chp 11-12 post

Prompt 10

Chapters eleven and twelve of “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding, were gruesome and present the falling action and resolution.  The falling action begins when Piggy, blinded by the theft of his glasses, summons the courage to confront the ‘Tribe’ and convinces Ralph and the twins that it is their option.  Of course, for Piggy this was a fateful decision.  When Piggy, who represented knowledge, is crushed by the bolder, and the conch, which represented civility, destroyed, the last fragment of the society fell with them. 

I think my favorite part in the book, though, is when the naval officer asks “Who’s boss here?” (201) and Ralph responds, “I am”.  Jack hides himself in the background, realizing that the boys will not speak highly of his leadership role.The very final paragraph of the novel where Golding describes the naval officer turning away “to give them time to pull themselves together” (202). It is evident that Ralph will realize civil decency once more.

In regard to the prompt, I believe Golding sums up the theme of the novel in the last few sentences when he writes, “Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy” (Golding 202). The drastic change in the young boys becoming ruthless savages was rather chilling and it does make me think of my own life and future.  I remember days when my family would be playing in the yard, or going to the beach or something very ordinary, but and I would come home at night and squeal that that was the ‘best day ever!’ I haven’t felt that innocence for sometime and fear that losing it has made me a more serious person.  Of course, we all must grow up and innocence is lost, but if we have family and good friends and memories, our heart will not grow dark.