Lord of the Flies

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   luannw Teacher
   High School - 11th Grade

   In chapter 3, Simon goes into the jungle by himself.  Prior to this, there was much dissention between Jack and Ralph because Ralph was upset that they've made little progress in hut building and in their attempts to be civilized in general.  Ralph wants to be organized, to have huts for shelter, and to have order.  Jack wants to hunt and be savage.  Simon tries to help the two come together, without much success.  Then he goes into the jungle.  He finds a secluded spot and hides under the creepers and leaves.  There he sees the island from a new perspective.  He sees it as a beautiful place where they could start fresh, away from the "civilized" world's wars and conflict. Simon is the mystic and this is one of his first major mystical experiences on the island.  Later, in a similar scene, he will come to fully understand and articulate the source of the evil on the island.  This episode in chapter 3, lets the reader know the type of deep thinker and philosopher that Simon is.  Simon is the first of the boys to fully understand that the evil is within each one of the boys; it is not an outside force.  Golding speaks through Simon to the reader.

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/flies

   http://www.enotes.com/flies/chapter-3-summary-analysis

   http://www.enotes.com/flies/character-analysis

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   Posted by luannw on Wednesday November 26, 2008 at 5:57 AM
   
   

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