Posting #4 chapter 9-12
This being my last post I would like to re-cap on the book, share my thoughts, and pull out some important points that were revealed near the end of the novel. First off I will start with my opinion of the book. During this novel study I was finding it so hard to get into one of those “wake me up when its over” kind of books, which was really unfortunate for I heard many people liked it, either I just have a different taste then everyone or I am missing something. Now that being said I would like to comment on the ending. I LOVED IT. It may not have been an ending that played with your mind ending like in Life of Pi but sometimes just a good “happily ever after” is in need. When the captain comes to the island I think it is a complete reality check for the reader and really goes back to the quote “the infinite cynicism of adult life” (151). I noted on this quote in my last post but I would like to show this connection. Immediately the captain takes an authority role over the children and assumes they are, “having a war or something” (223) and we are pulled out of this whole terror like situation and are pulled back to the fact that they are just little boys. Again, just saying that proves that it is immediate to think, ‘oh they were not really capable of such damage it was all fathomed through the children’s imaginations”. Moving away from this thought I would like to talk about the symbol of the conch. It seemed peculiar to me the strength it obtained. It was the one thing piggy wanted to protect which symbolized the order and stalemate of the two groups. And when the shell “exploded” (200) all hell broke loose, quite a pronounced symbol. It was one of my favorite pieces in the book for it symbolized the “dignity” (218) that man obtains and when it and piggy died it was one of the saddest moments in the book.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Post #2
April.18.2007
For this post I would like to talk about most likely one of the most important events that has and will ever happen in this novel. Although, many may think I am going to write about the fact that Jack left to make his own tribe, or that all the boys now believe the beast is real, these in fact, although important, are not the most important. First off I would like to analyze the character in which this whole important scene takes place around. Simon is and always has been a character with good moral, he has always been kind to the littleuns, and although shy and because of this feels “pressure of the assembly” and is unable to speak his mind, his thoughts are the sanest thoughts of the whole group. I believe that Simon could have been the one to lead them all to safety and could have kept all the boys under control. Simon was very smart to want to go back up into the mountain and be certain of the beast but because of his personality he was unable to suggest with authority. In this part where he finds “sympathy in piggy” we see where Simon holds himself, less than piggy. For the actual importance that Simon plays, we look at when he wanders off into the “creepers”. Simon uses nature to keep himself at peace. He is not really part of either tribe. Ralph stands for complete democracy where Jack it barbaric. Simon just uses kindness that he finds among nature. When Simon finds the pigs head he experience a complete fear, but not just of “the lord of the flies” but fear of what is taking place with the boys. When Simon starts to talk to “the lord of the flies” we find the beast or the lords’ symbolism which is, “the infinite cynicism of adult life”. Simon then makes one of the most important quotes in the book. He talks about the brutal killing of the pig and how it is driving all the boys to competition for power, where the killing gives them this strength. Simon says, “A gift for the beast. Might not the beast come from it?” This point sets up and proves the whole barbarian attitude that is happening in Jakes tribe, and even in Ralph when he fights for his power by trying to look stronger and ignoring his natural instincts.
For this post I would like to talk about most likely one of the most important events that has and will ever happen in this novel. Although, many may think I am going to write about the fact that Jack left to make his own tribe, or that all the boys now believe the beast is real, these in fact, although important, are not the most important. First off I would like to analyze the character in which this whole important scene takes place around. Simon is and always has been a character with good moral, he has always been kind to the littleuns, and although shy and because of this feels “pressure of the assembly” and is unable to speak his mind, his thoughts are the sanest thoughts of the whole group. I believe that Simon could have been the one to lead them all to safety and could have kept all the boys under control. Simon was very smart to want to go back up into the mountain and be certain of the beast but because of his personality he was unable to suggest with authority. In this part where he finds “sympathy in piggy” we see where Simon holds himself, less than piggy. For the actual importance that Simon plays, we look at when he wanders off into the “creepers”. Simon uses nature to keep himself at peace. He is not really part of either tribe. Ralph stands for complete democracy where Jack it barbaric. Simon just uses kindness that he finds among nature. When Simon finds the pigs head he experience a complete fear, but not just of “the lord of the flies” but fear of what is taking place with the boys. When Simon starts to talk to “the lord of the flies” we find the beast or the lords’ symbolism which is, “the infinite cynicism of adult life”. Simon then makes one of the most important quotes in the book. He talks about the brutal killing of the pig and how it is driving all the boys to competition for power, where the killing gives them this strength. Simon says, “A gift for the beast. Might not the beast come from it?” This point sets up and proves the whole barbarian attitude that is happening in Jakes tribe, and even in Ralph when he fights for his power by trying to look stronger and ignoring his natural instincts.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Blog Entry #2 March. 11. 2007
Erika Domke
As we all have now read almost half the book we know that there are many symbols. As we briefly talked about in class almost every element of the book contains symbols, even the chapter titles. I would like to talk about pretty much the biggest symbol, for it is on the cover of the book, the pig! I believe the pig is not only a symbol but some sort of a foreshadow onto piggy the character. In chapter four we see the glorious capture of the pig. The killing was a gruesome one, where “the pigs head hung down with [a] gaping neck” (72). This picture shows the disgust and brutality of the hunt. We also now see the pig as a symbol. The fire is the most important thing in order to be rescued, but because of the hunt the fire went out with no one there to feed the flames. The pig shows that the boys are now becoming accustomed to the life that they are leading, and maybe becoming too involved for we see their enjoyment of this killing when they sang “kill the pig, cut her throat. Spill the blood.” (72). Also, it is becoming dangerous to some of the characters such as piggy. Piggy is not a boy like the others, he is bigger and not as agile, although this is unfortunate he does have the smarts, we see this when Ralph is thinking and wishes he could think like Piggy, “I can’t think. Not like Piggy.” (83). We see on page 68 that “Piggy was an outsider” and the fact that none of the boys like him and the way that jack treated him on page 75 when he “smacked his head”, Piggy may be in trouble in the future. I have come to suspect that the Pig and Piggy may have a common fate.
Erika Domke
As we all have now read almost half the book we know that there are many symbols. As we briefly talked about in class almost every element of the book contains symbols, even the chapter titles. I would like to talk about pretty much the biggest symbol, for it is on the cover of the book, the pig! I believe the pig is not only a symbol but some sort of a foreshadow onto piggy the character. In chapter four we see the glorious capture of the pig. The killing was a gruesome one, where “the pigs head hung down with [a] gaping neck” (72). This picture shows the disgust and brutality of the hunt. We also now see the pig as a symbol. The fire is the most important thing in order to be rescued, but because of the hunt the fire went out with no one there to feed the flames. The pig shows that the boys are now becoming accustomed to the life that they are leading, and maybe becoming too involved for we see their enjoyment of this killing when they sang “kill the pig, cut her throat. Spill the blood.” (72). Also, it is becoming dangerous to some of the characters such as piggy. Piggy is not a boy like the others, he is bigger and not as agile, although this is unfortunate he does have the smarts, we see this when Ralph is thinking and wishes he could think like Piggy, “I can’t think. Not like Piggy.” (83). We see on page 68 that “Piggy was an outsider” and the fact that none of the boys like him and the way that jack treated him on page 75 when he “smacked his head”, Piggy may be in trouble in the future. I have come to suspect that the Pig and Piggy may have a common fate.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Postimg one- imagery
Lord of the flies starts out ‘in media res’, as we just previously were informed the meaning of this, right in the middle of the story. I usually do not like this style of writing because I find my self very lost. But, I have been reading the book called “the portrait of a lady” by Henry James and I believe William Golding writes in a very similar way. Both authors love to write about the scene and what it looks like, really engages the reader in all the senses. Because of ‘portrait of a lady’ I learned how to dive into the image and re-read and build that scene. So, it just goes to show that my personal reading really can help my school work, because I found “lord of the flies” easier to dive into. Now that I am able to understand the imagery better I would love to talk about it. So first off just let me say “holy crap man” Golding really just loves the whole imagery thing!!! It’s beautiful really. He completely paints a picture with his words, but when I say that, it is not just like he paints and you see the end result right away, he paints in sections. It is like he will start in a corner and work his way around the scene intertwining the characters to add to the scene, like they are props themselves. When he describes the forest with “creepers” and its “earth” it just really makes me feel like I am in a forest. The way it is damp and cool and full of green life that grows and spins itself everywhere. I am really excited to keep reading and learn more about the “beasies” that have been mentioned. I am very excited to learn what they look like, and I know with Golding’s writing I will be impressed!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)