Chapter 8: Gift for the Darkness
Four main events occur in this chapter- (1) a
physical break between the two tribes (2) a
pig hunt, (3) the establishment of the Lord
of the Flies, and (4) Simon confronting and
communicating with this symbol of evil.
The boys return and alert the rest of the
tribe to the existence of the beast. Piggy
is surprised to realize that it exists.
Notice how Ralph describes it. (125)
“and now that thing squats by the fire as
though it didn’t want us to be rescued.”
Jack will use its presence and their
inability to kill it as a means to take
control. (but remember...they’re really
are just boys with sticks as Ralph claims)
During the meeting, which Jack calls, he
tries to “impeach” Ralph. He uses the
boys’ fear to advance himself. Ironically
he tells them, “The beast is a hunter,”
when questioned about it. It is Simon
who will fit the pieces together when he
says, “maybe it’s only us”
Why is it that nobody votes for him?
Notice how Jack responds when his coup
fails. (127)
Piggy is elated that Jack is gone, but
Ralph is concerned about restarting the
fire. It is Piggy who dares to suggest that
the fire be built where they are. He even
condescends to carry a piece of
firewood. What is Golding saying about
intellectuals when this happens?
Sadly, their happiness is short-lived
when it is discovered that many of the
boys have left to join Jack’s tribe. Why
do they do it in this way?
Simon has left for a different reason.
Notice how Golding once again uses
nature as a means to evaluate the
characters of Simon and Jack. (132-133)
The reader leaves Simon in his bower to
follow Jack and his hunters in a
significant hunt. (This is after they have
decided they will forget the beast yet
leave behind some of the kill for it???)
The kill is clearly likened to a violent
sexual attack. (135) Notice how the
sadist Roger asserts his tendancies
during the attack. Afterward they
ritualistically cover themselves in the
blood of their kill and then establish the
totem which is the Lord of the Flies.
They leave this for the beast, but what
could be more beastly than the attack
they just made on the animal. “This head
is for the beast. It’s a gift.” The irony
is.........they give the pig’s head to the
“beast”, but the real “beast” they need to
fear is what the sow’s head on a stick
represents!
Nature even responds
uncharacteristically to this brutality.
(137)
Simon has been watching this from his
bower, so he now approaches the LOTF.
Notice that Simon, as our visionary, is
the only one who can provide us with
these close views of the “beasts” which
reside on the island. The head assures
Simon that everything in the world is
rotten. Simon realizes this is true.
Now the reader sees how Golding takes
the story beyond a group of boys into the
real supposedly “civilized” adult world.
Simon has seen this evil before in the
world outside the island. “The half-shut
eyes were dim with the infinite cynicism
of adult life. They assured Simon that
everything was bad business.” “...and his
gaze was held by that ancient,
inescapable recognition.”
Nature continues to show its objections
to the events. (138)
Ralph is concerned that someday he may
not care about the fire. (139)
When Jack and his mates storm the camp
to steal fire, notice how Golding
describes them now that they have fully
succumbed to evil forces. (140) Notice
that Ralph mistakenly thought it was
the ..... Is he wrong?
Jack shows his style of leadership as he
forces two of his savages to declare that
the chief has spoken.
Piggy fears that Jack had come for the
conch. Why would this be the last thing
he would do?
The final pages of the chapter are the
confrontation between Christ and Satan.
He is scared, told a truth, and then
tempted. (143)
The LOTF tell Simon he is part of him;
Simon knows this to be a truth. Then the
beast tempts him by saying they will
have fun on the island, but Simon
realizes this will only lead to trouble. As
a result, Simon will be threatened.
“Simon found he was looking into a vast
mouth. There was blackness within, a
blackness that spread.” The knowledge
he has acquired so overwhelms him that
he faints.
