Lord of the Flies

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   tapdaisy Teacher
   High School - 10th Grade

   In order to understand what they have done... they have to have some sort of concept of society. By chapter ten of the novel, they no longer have any ideas associated with rules. The boys cannot even mention the word "murder," because they cannot recognize it. Murder is a word society decided upon and it implies legal actions, punishments, etc. If they cannot find a word for what has happened, it is almost as if they can "wish it away," and then no one will have died. Also, responsibility for actions cannot be accepted, therefore no one acknowledges (even Piggy) that Simon's death was their collective fault. Again, responsibility and rules are associated with a structured society, because they exist on an island of complete chaos, none of these can possibly present themselves. Having one of the characters admit to the wrongdoing, or even acknowledge it would be equal to teaching a wild beast Parliamentary procedures.

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   Posted by tapdaisy on Tuesday October 14, 2008 at 6:50 PM
   
   

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