Biddle,K


 * 1.) Beelzebub: Chapter 5 **

In chapter 5, the beastie becomes more prominent. The boys fear a creature or Beelzebub in this chapter shows that something may be forcing them to act out in violence. Jack could also represent Beelzebub because he brings out the evil in the boys making them violent and he has made the boys resistant to leadership other than his own. The conch no longer is working in controlling the boys and keeping peace. This shows that humanity deals with unpleasant things by just going along with them and trying to ignore it all at the same time. But all that ends up happening is chaos. For example, chaos starts to break out when the boys are all trying to speak at once and the conch has lost most of its power. “I got the conch!” (Golding, 83). Piggy is trying to talk to the other boys about how the island has been getting out of control but the boys still ignore him at first until he yells that he has the conch.

There are many examples of materialization of evil in literature. Specifically, in //My Sister’s Keeper// by Jodi Picoult, a family has a daughter diagnosed with leukemia and later scientifically conceives a baby that will be able to give the daughter with leukemia anything she needs. The cancer is an example of evil that manifests its way into people’s lives. It effects not only the person diagnosed but also puts stress on the family and friends of the individual.


 * 2.) Civilization: Chapters 3 and 4 **

 Civilization is a key concept present in chapters 3 and 4 of //Lord of the Flies//. Simon finds his own peaceful place in the forest to distance himself from the chaos of the rest of the island. In order for Simon to keep his own civilization working he has to start a new civilization without the rest of the boys. It is said that Simon found a place "where more sunshine fell" (Golding, 56). Simon was able to succeed amidst madness. This quote shows success. The rest of the boys are working to keep their civilization working. Jack does this by taking control and giving the younger boys a leader. Jack kills a pig with his followers and they chant "kill the pig, cut her throat, spill her blood" (Golding, 69). The boys light a fire but Jack lets it go out. When a ship passes, no smoke can be seen and the island is not recognized on the horizon. Simon is succeeding in his civilization but Jack's civilization is on the fast track to failing. There is no sturdy government and Jack is becoming careless by letting the fire go out. Jack's quote shows failure.

Currently, civilizations around the world are at different points in their development. There are defiantly some great successes but also some destructive failures. For example, The United States has come a long way and has been able to create new technologies that are able to help the people greatly and all different types of people are on their way to becoming equal. Decades ago African Americans were viewed as property in many states and women were viewed as lesser than men. Now as a country, men and women are on their way to be treated equally and .... In other parts of the world like Syria and Afghanistan only so much can progress with such an oppressive government.


 *  3.) Nyctophobia: Chapter 6 **

The concept of Nyctophobia is throughout the novel but is shown a lot in Chapter 6. For example, a battle takes places above the island. Sam and Eric are in charge of keeping the fire going but at some point they let the fire go out. A parachutist dies in the battle and falls onto the island. The boys search the island for the bestie in the morning. They find a part of the island that they have never explored before. Sam and Eric express their fear of the beastie when they say “Couldn’t we--kind of—stay here?” (Golding, 101). They are afraid of going into the cave because they do not know what lurks in the darkness. Golding is trying to teach the reader that humans deal with their fears by avoiding them until they cannot any longer like Jack does with the cave. He is the leader and "fearless" one of the group but he does not kill the pig the firdt time he sees it and he avoids exploring strange areas of the island until he is pressured to do so.

 Humanity as a whole fears death inevitably. Everyone and everything will die eventually but we all fear it because there is not much known about what happens after death. For everyone, it is different. Some people wonder when it will happen and how it will happen. It is unknown of that happens after death. In different religions and cultures post death theories all differ. Some people, including Buddhists believe that there is life after death in the form of reincarnation but other religions like Christianity believe that souls go to either heaven or hell. Other religions such as Judaism are not sure what happens after death. At the end of it all, we fear the unknown.


 * 4.) Good and Evil: Chapter 2 **

Jack is starting to show his true colors. He is taking control of the other boys and forming the group of hunters. Jack tries to kill a pig but he claims that he will get it next time. Jack also starts to order around the younger boys. While talking to the boys Jack says "We'll have rules!...Lots of Rules! (Golding, 33). When he says this it may foreshadow later in the novel when Jack takes over. The evil side is starting to win at this point. Jack is starting to show that he will take charge and boss around the boys and get them to do what he wants.

To determine what is good and what is evil in this world, i use my instinct and what I have been taught growing up. Things that are against the law are taught to be evil and things that are accepted by society are good. Good things benefit others and they benefit you. On the other hand, evil things do not benefit anyone and may even be harmful.


 *  5.) Groupthink Chapter 1 **

 At the beginning of the novel, the boys quickly realize that they must work together in order to survive. Jack and Ralph both want to become the leader of the other boys. Jack becomes the leader after a vote but Ralph is still trying to have power. Jack develops a system involving the conch having the boys come to him when he sounds it and they use it as a talking stick. Jack rips the conch out of Piggy's hands and forces him not to speak just because of the look in his eyes. Superiority develops and forces weaker characters to become afraid of the leaders and go along with what everyone else is doing. During the vote for chief, Piggy votes for Jack. “Then Piggy, too, raised his hang grudgingly into the air” (Golding, 23). It is somewhat positive the Groupthink is happening because it is bringing the boys together but it is also negative because jack has all of the power and isnt letting any of the other boys contribute.

Groupthink is in my life almost every day. Sometimes it is when i am working in a group at school for a project or when I am making plans with my friends. During a project, usually one person takes over and runs the group more than the rest. When I make plans, usually one person takes charge of what we will do and the other people just agree to go along. In both if these situations, nobody goes against the leader of the group in order to keep the peace and make everything turn out smoother. In order to deal with groupthink, others must interject their own ideas and come up with a plan together. Lord of the Flies- Chapters 7-12 Diary Entries

10 year old, Bill
 * Chapter 7:**

Since we aren’t going home, I don’t need my notebook anymore! I feel bad that I’m on a vacation while other ten year olds are at school! This afternoon I went up the mountain with the other boys. We followed Jack and found droppings from a pig. Later, we saw a boar and chase it. I had so much fun running after the pig with the other boys. We were all chanting “Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Kill the pig! Bash him in!” (Golding, 114) Caught up in the excitement, Jack throws his spear. I was hoping that it would kill the pig but it only grazed its snout. The pig escapes but we plan to come back and hunt until we kill. Jack was proud of himself and said that the pig had made his arm bleed with his tusks. After getting back to the rest of the island, we were all still excited. We started to reenact the hunting. We got caught up in what we were doing and stabbed Robert with spears. Eventually we come to our senses when Ralph reminds us that it is only a game. I hope we kill the pig next time! I am scared because Jack told us that when he climbed the mountain at night, he saw a beast. I hope that the beast will leave me alone! -Bill


 * Chapter 8:**

Today was such a fun day! I went hunting with Jack again. We finally killed a pig this time! I’m so happy that we were able to get a pig! Now we will be able to eat more than just fruit! Jack thought it would be a good idea to give the head of the pig to the beastie as a gift so maybe they will leave us alone. I went with Jack to give the head to the beastie. “Jack held up and jammed the soft throat down on the pointed end of the stick which pierced through into the mouth. He stood back and hung there, a little blood dripping down the stick” (Golding, 136-137). I really hope the beastie takes our gift and leaves us alone! Even though I’m a Bigun, sometimes I feel like I am just as scared of the beastie as the Littluns! I sure am glad that I have Jack to look up to and protect me! -Bill


 * Chapters 9 & 10:**

I had a great feast today! We killed a pig and were eating it with the rest of the boys on the island. Jack asks Ralph’s tribe if they want to join the hunters. All of the boys, even Piggy and Ralph, were having a great time. We all started to chant and reenact the killing of the pig. Jack was encouraging the other boys to join in by saying “Do our dance! Come on! Dance!” (Golding, 151) At that moment, the beast crawls out of the darkness and we surround him. Everyone was stabbing and grabbing at the beast. We had not realized before it was too late that the beast was actually Simon. Jack is starting to become very bossy. I’m starting to be afraid of him! I feel as if I am forced to do what he says or he will do to me what he did to Simon! Earlier, he tied up and beat Wilfred. Jack is warning us that Ralph’s tribe is dangerous and we must stay with him. -Bill

Earlier today I was guarding the entrance to Castle Rock with a few other boys. We had heard that Ralph was going to attack us since we took their fire and Piggy’s glasses. Ralph came sauntering up to us like he was trying to argue with the conch shell in his hand. He started blowing the conch loudly, trying to call a meeting. I started throwing stones at him with my friends. Jack came out of the woods and started to fight with Ralph. Ralph called Jack “a beast and a swine and a bloody, bloody thief!” (Golding, 179)Jack became very angry and told us to capture SamnEric. We took the twins up the mountain and tie them up, making them do whatever we want. Piggy looked so weak without his glasses and he is the only one keeping Ralph sane. While Roger and Jack argued, Roger hurled a bolder at Piggy. It killed him and threw his body into the ocean. It was exciting to see another person killed. I feel like the civilization has changed a lot since we first came to the island but I am enjoying hunting and bossing around the other tribe. -Bill
 * Chapter 11:**

Finally, a naval officer saw the smoke from the fire and rescued us! Most of the boys started to cry when the officer came. Ralph just barely escaped death. When I got home my family accepted me. My parents felt that since I had been gone for so long, that I should go to a therapist. I go talk to someone about my life now and how it was on the island once a week. Last session, I told Dr. Keen that I felt that I while on the island I learned how to fend for myself. I also became a different person while I was living only with young boys. I became a more angry and vicious. Before living on the island, I was relatively shy and would never hurt anyone. I guess I really have changed. I was sitting in my living room when I turned on the television and saw a report about a boy who had been caught torturing animals. When the newscaster showed a picture of the boy, I was shocked to see that it was a picture of Roger! I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised since he was able to kill Piggy, even without the paint on his face. He is going to be on trial for murder and probably be charged as an adult. I got a letter from Ralph, he wrote that Jack and him had met up a few weeks ago and talked out their differences since they would have to be going to school together. Ralph has also been going to therapy and said that Jack has been too. Jack’s parents forced him to go to therapy and because he is not taking it seriously, he has not been able to find relief from is inner demons. Jack also does not want to be in therapy because he has seen therapy fail when his parents went for marriage coinciding. I think that maybe Jack acted the way he did on the island, striving for power and controlling others because he was never able to control his home life. I hope Jack finds inner peace and starts to take therapy seriously since he obviously needs it. Ralph is happy to be able to talk to someone and be able to work through his inner turmoil caused by his experiences on the island. After going to his therapist, he has been able to not feel quite as terrible about taking part in the dance and killing Simon. Of course he still feels guilty but he is now able to function without thinking about it every day. Ralph also got a letter from Sam and Eric. Their family moved away and they now go to a new school. They are finding it easier to get over the trauma of being held captive by Jack’s savages since they are in a totally new environment. Being on the island caused Sam and Eric have a closer bond than they had before. Hearing that did not surprise me, by the end of the time we were on the island I never saw them apart. I am happy to be home with my family and not have to worry about being attacked anymore. -Bill
 * Chapter 12:**