All I Can Say Is Thank You

I’m by myself, I have absolutely no companion and I’m bleeding like crazy –Jack has stabbed me on the ribs and I’m trapped here in the bushes with nowhere to go. I feel like crying, but again, I can’t let The Lord of the Flies win. I will try to defeat him, for Piggy and Simon, and for civilization and humanity –I simply can’t let the evil devil win this game. I have pain everywhere and I’m hungry, the smell of the roasting pig tempts me but I’m no savage; remember that! Anyway, I’ll have to survive alone now. I find a little hideout in the forest and my eyes perceive something that makes me throw up. It’s a head’s pig on a stick –must have been one of Jack’s art works. It seems alive and it’s honestly the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen. It looks like he knows all the answers but won’t tell. I get rid of it by taking the spear out of it; whatever it was it’s gone. I make my way to Castle Rock and I’m able to talk to Samneric. They give me food, yet won’t accompany me. They say Jack and Roger want to kill me, but why? I run; run for my life and fall asleep in the thicket. I’m alone.

I wake up to the sound of a fire? A fire! They have lit the island on fire so I have no way out. Smart one Jack; you will have no way out either. They’re looking for me, I can feel them very close and they are approaching, threatening Sam or Eric to say where I’m hiding. They’ve got me, they know where I am, I try to hide but the fire is spreading and they’re after me. I run for my life and realize for the last time how they are not boys, the beast dominates them all -The Lord of The Flies. I listen to their screaming, they wanna kill me once and for all. Maybe it is my time too; at least, I’ll be safe in Heaven. As soon as I’m about to give up, I fall to the ground and there’s a man looking down at me: a naval officer. He must be thinking the same thing as me, how the hell did this happen? I look at the island around me that has been my home for many months and is now burning; The Lord of the Flies within it.

We are safe. I am safe, we have finally been rescued, and I’m glad to be on my way back home. I’ve learned so many things from this experience, beginning with the fact that we all have a beast inside of us. I just can’t be mad at anyone. Jack was the worst on this island but by lighting it on fire he saved my life. I will have to thank him rather than to hate him. Surprisingly I will also have to thank The Lord of the Flies, for teaching me what lives within humanity. 

- Ralph

Goodbye, Piggy

We will head up to Castle Rock and ask for Piggy’s glasses like the civilized kids we are and have always been. It sort of scares me because I know Jack is more powerful than we are. He’s got his hunters and the beast on his side; they could defeat us with their eyes closed but I’m determined to give it a try. I’m still the chief! And I want to give Piggy back his sight. We will take the conch with us –to show them that we still have order and give them an impression of authority; we will show them what they have become and that it is incorrect. I guess this is when all I’ve been taught throughout my childhood comes in handy; I will try to make them remember what we were when we first arrived in this island…

Hunters greet us with weapons once we arrive at Castle Rock. They are not the boys I met the first day we were being evacuated; The Lord of The Flies has stolen their identities and souls. I’m scared –not so much for me but for my dear friend Piggy; he’s vulnerable without his specs, he can’t see a thing. Jack appears and I can’t hold my anger in. Violent Jack strikes again and starts a brawl and we begin fighting with the spears. I feel him defeating me –I know we’re not here to fight but I can’t let him win. Suddenly, he asks his hunters to tie Samneric, and they are gone, they are part of his group now.

I can hear Piggy screaming, he’s got the conch in his hands, unable to see what’s happening. I know I have to help him –get his glasses back- but I have to continue fighting. I look up from the vicious brawl and spot Roger on the cliff ready to release a huge boulder, which balances itself on the edge. I see it falling through the air and hit Piggy. The conch breaks into pieces (goodbye order & authority) and Piggy falls to the floor; dead. First Simon, now Piggy; the conch, the signal fire, and everything in between, everything is gone. I will never forgive you Jack. I will never forgive you hunters. And I will absolutely never forgive you stupid beast. I will win this for you Piggy, I promise. 

- Ralph 

Civilization Is Gone

I killed him –we murdered Simon. Jack knew it was him! That’s why he ordered the attack; he never liked Simon after he stayed in my tribe. Guilt and sadness are eating me whole, I can’t believe I killed him. Piggy says it was an accident, but I know the truth; I know what I did. I regret every little thing that I did last night at that stupid feast. The overwhelming savagery took hold of me, I was the beast’s prisoner, but I could’ve fought harder to set myself free and save my friend. Now, Simon’s gone and it’s my entire fault. I will never forgive myself, where did my civilization go? My manners, my morals, my instincts were all gone; the beast took it all and left me with only cruelty, barbarism, and savagery. I don’t even deserve to be rescued. Maybe Piggy’s right though, maybe we didn’t participate in the murder, we were outside the circle. Gosh, I don’t know. I don’t know what to think, I just hope Simon can forgive me because I know I won’t be able to forgive myself. I’m a killer.

Everyone is gone now. I’m only left with a couple of littleuns, Samneric, and Piggy. It’s actually all I can have and I appreciate their company. For a moment, I forget the importance of the signal fire; but you know what? It’s not really important anymore; it doesn’t really matter. I just wanna go home.

We don’t light the signal fire tonight, that’s why my head’s plagued with nightmares; the heat of the fire used to confort us at night. Everything that used to give me hope is gone: Simon, the signal fire, and the boys’ determination…

Jack’s tribe has just attacked us. They hurt us badly and I have no idea why; we don’t want to fight. Fighting is just another victory for the beast and we can’t make it easy for him to rule our human kingdom and our morals. I can’t lose more civilization than I already have. We soon find out why they came to attack: they stole Piggy’s glasses and at the same time our ability to make fire. What will Piggy do without his eyes?

-Ralph  

Losing Control

Unbelievable. They have made Jack their king. Its almost ridiculous the way they praise him, but I think it is because they are scared of him. Each and every one of them know what Jack Meridew is capable of doing and they are scared of the possibility that they might be his next prey; just like Piggy has been, and the pigs. It’s shocking, the way they are dancing and chanting around the blazing fire; they are complete savages by now and the fact that they thirst for blood and lust for meat is horrifying. It makes me feel they could even kill a human being. They are lost under that paint on their faces, it’s as if the mask has a life of its own. He’s taken my power, Jack; he has stolen it for good. I feel defeated, but glad because I haven’t lost control of myself…

The next part is very hazy in my head: wild, painted faces and bodies dance and chant faster, faster, indulging me into a crazy frenzy of savage nature. I’m stuck inside their ritual circle, my head spins, and my thoughts are taken over by the beast, the savagery in all of us. I soon realize there’s no real physical beast; Simon was right: the beast lives inside all of us. But the hunters don’t know that, they believe in a beast when in reality, the beasts are themselves. I’m losing myself for the second time on this island and I can’t seem to stop. I’m celebrating like the rest, “Leave me alone you stupid beast!” I tell myself but it’s stuck inside me. I bet Piggy hasn’t lost himself, he’s strong, more than me; his specs give him the wisdom to stay civilized, even now that they are broken. “Kill the beast. Cut his throat. Spill his blood” We watch the beast crawl out of the forest into our circle. I hear Jack’s orders: to kill it. "Kill the beast." I stand next to Piggy once again once I realize that the hunters are having at it. I can’t kill anything, not even a beast. Wait, that’s not the beast! It’s Simon!!! They just killed Simon. I just killed Simon.

-Ralph 

Why Do Things Break Up?

This island only causes problems and is ruining my perfect rescue plan. As you already know, the terrifying beast is on the mountain where we had the signal fire; every one is too afraid to go up there and we can’t keep the signal fire going –I believe hope is now gone for good. If you don’t think that is a problem, what about this: Jack told all the boys that I don’t have the right to be chief; I knew his behavior would bring something like this –he wants to take over now. The good thing in this nightmare is that none of the boys agree with him, but Jack decides that he’s not part of the group anymore and leaves to the jungle. He’ll come back, I know it; he won’t be able to survive alone. Piggy and I have to make a fire on the beach; we won’t dare go up the mountain and maintain the usual one since the beast is up there. But where the hell are the other boys? They left. I can’t believe it. They left with Jack –Roger, Maurice, Bill, Robert – they all left. And Simon. SIMON? Wow. He must be wandering around; I don’t think he would betray me that way.

Why do things break up as they do? I simply don’t get it. Humanity, civilization, order, morals, everything is breaking up in this island, and in this world –everything is coming to an end, thanks to that war.

I soon locate the savages, they come towards the beach and invite us to a feast they have tonight. Samneric wanna go, and even though I say I don’t, I kinda do; I’m hungry for meat. But we have to stay guarding the fire, because, because, oh yeah! Because we need to get rescued. Right, getting rescued.   

-Ralph 

I'll Get Back, If We Kill It

We’ve been hunting and don’t find anything; maybe cause there isn’t anything?! I don’t even know if that is a question or a statement. I don’t even know what to think about this beast. I’m hungry, I want to cut my hair and take a decent bath like I did back in England. The bad thing is that I’ve become used to the conditions of filthiness; it’s like if it were normal. I find myself missing England, my precious home, more than ever now that I’m watching the vast ocean that extends miles and miles away; it’s like if I was daydreaming about my memories. I hope Granny and Mother are all right, and Father, and that the war is coming to an end. Somehow, Simon notices my nostalgia and comforts me “You’ll get back all right… You’ll get back to where you came from.” I know maybe it’s not true but I do feel better, Simon has his ways – he seems to have a special connection with everything and every one. But for some reason he only says that I’ll get back all right; not him or the rest of them; who knows?

I’ll get back to where I came from.      

Something amazing happens, maybe I shouldn’t have done it but I felt so happy and proud: I hit the snout of the boar we are attacking with my spear. I suddenly feel like I can do something good, something that Jack finds good; maybe hunting isn’t so bad after all –or is it? I do feel kind of guilty later when we attack Robert as if he were the pig. I have to confess that I did behave a little savage and wild, but only a little! I kind of understand Jack now, it sort of gets into you, the whole idea of hunting.

It’s getting dark now, we better go up the mountain and look for that beast… HOLY SHIT!!! THE BEAST! The beast is there on the tree. I find myself terrified by this specter that sits like a giant ape, and run along with the rest towards the littleuns and Piggy. We’ve seen the beast; it does exist.  

-Ralph   

Let's Hunt The Beast

I open my eyes vaguely, like that time when we first landed on this island. Samneric are shaking me like if I were a bag of potatoes. Gosh, they can’t even let the chief sleep awhile. They’re screaming like insane little boys and I have no other option than to wake up and listen to what they’ve got to say. Oh no! Here they come again with their batty comments. Now they say that they saw the beast at the top of the mountain when they were guarding the fire. So... there is a beast? With wings, teeth and claws? I don’t know about the littleuns but Samneric are no liars, I actually believe them. The good thing is that it’s daylight and there’s nothing to worry about, for now.

Jack has decided we should all go hunting and catch that beast that is scaring the boys. It’s the first time I’ll go hunting with them and I have to admit I am kind of excited. I feel the adrenaline and the power of being able to hunt something down, yet remember I’m no savage; I will not dare to paint my face and behave like an animal. Jack can do that, but I can’t. I have to stay civilized but I know that since I’m chief, my duty is to look for the beast and find it. Let's go kill what's frightening us!   

- Ralph    

Water Beast? We're All Batty

As you might have imagined, Jack made a fire to cook the pig. Those savage, batty boys reenacted their hunt and danced around the fire like animals celebrating their prey. Their ritual was kind of scary; maybe they are the beasts; who kills a living thing? Anyway, it was the first time I had the chance to eat meat since we arrived here, I just couldn’t waste my opportunity and I’m sick and tired of fruit as I am of Jack and his hunters. I’ll make an assembly, everything’s wrong and I don’t want it to be that way.

I blow the conch like usual and the sound of it makes me feel a little better. Its whistle means order and civilization; that is who we are, after all we are English. But our perfection has decreased to something way beyond wildness and stupidity. 1) No one understands the importance of the fire and the fact that we need it going. 2) We need to finish building the shelters. 3) We need clean water supplies. 4) This island is getting dirty, where are the sanitation measures we agreed on? It has been a disorder and it can’t continue that way. Other than this, I talk about something that has been stuck in my mind forever, it seems –the fear we all have; fear for death and for the beastie. We are all scared and it’s noticeable. Jack claims that there is no such thing and that if there is we should just get used to it. In the other hand, Piggy says there is only the fear of people. I don’t really know whom to believe now because then two littleuns –Percival is one of them- come to the platform saying that there is a beast, that they have seen it, and it comes out of the ocean at night. Really guys? I do not believe in the beast –I’ve stated that many times- but what about all this? Is it nightmares or lies?  Simon thinks that the beast is only us. Seriously? Now, I am totally confused. This island has made us all batty.  

The worst part is Jack’s behavior; not only his savagery but the way he treats everyone and me: the chief. I need him but I also need Piggy and Simon; he crosses the line with Piggy and I can't let Piggy be terated that way. He has hst him and broken his glasses already. He doesn’t want to follow my rules either and I think I should just give the whole leadership thing aside; maybe he should lead. For some reason, Piggy and Simon don’t let me do that. Maybe I’m batty too –stupid island!

- Ralph

Friendship to Resentment

It is as if we were accustomed to the island now. Our lifes here have developed a daily rhythm.  Everything is a routine; we know what to do. We enjoy the day, the sun and the sea, and the wind. The littleuns goof around together; building sand castles and playing –some are still scared and I fear for them. But we are safe. The biguns have actually been of great help and Jack’s killing desire continues; unfortunately. Other than that, everything seems perfect…

What is that sound?! Bloody Hell!!! A SHIP! A ship! A ship’s passing next to the island. We’re getting rescued; we’re finally going back home! It’s all thanks to my signal fire, I knew it! Wait what??? Where the hell are the fire and the smoke? I can’t see anything on the mountain. Jack’s stupid hunters were supposed to be guarding my signal fire, they let it run out!!! Now the ship won’t know we are here; he won’t even notice. I find myself running up the mountain: “HERE!!! LOOK HERE! SAVE US. WE ARE TRAPPED ON THIS ISLAND. PLEASE COME. HERE!!!”

No response; obviously, they didn’t see or hear me –they won’t come for us. It’s all Jack’s fault; it was his responsibility to watch the fire but he’s too busy trying to hunt pigs even though that won’t help us in anything; how many times do I have to tell him? He just doesn’t understand our priorities. It’s like if this killer has introduced himself in his body and has made Jack blood thirsty. Well, maybe I’m exaggerating, but this certainly needs to stop. Now we’ve lost an opportunity to go back home. I soon spot the hunters singing and chanting, finally carrying a pig “Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood.” It's the first pig they've killed. I want to kill them like they killed that pig, especially Jack, but I won’t because I’m no savage. They do look like savages though. They are all almost naked and painted like wild warriors. I’m extremely worried, we are losing order because of them; we are losing our civilization because of this island. I'm getting tired of Jack, our friendship is turning to resentment because he thinks he's the chief;but I am. I think the only person I can really trust is Piggy; he will never lose his morals.

- Ralph  

First Things First

We are all very tired by now. We’ve been trapped on this island for a long time and there is no apparent hope for rescue from the boys. I do have hope though. I know everything will be all right and that we will be safe at home some time soon… We’ve changed our behavior a little in order to survive in this place. I tell the boys that we can’t behave like savages, and I expect them to stay civilized; the way they’ve been taught all their lifes back in England. Something that does scare me is Jack’s new obsession –his desire to kill a pig. He has promised me that he will get us meat and that’s exactly what he’s trying to do; yet he has failed to catch a pig. The thing is, I don’t really care about the meat; building shelters is way more important. I’m tired of this! In the last assembly the boys said they would help build, but where are they now? Playing. Taking a bath. And I don’t even want to know what else they are doing, and Jack is too busy hunting. He says he is working harder than me and I won't keep up with that. Simon and me are the only ones building the huts, which are necessary to survive. What if another storm comes like the day we arrived? We need shelters, not meat from the pigs.

The boys are all scared of the beastie. Jack hasn’t noticed but I have. At night, the littleuns, they dream and scream. As if it wasn’t a good island. But they’re batty; there’s no beast in this island. Jack doesn’t believe in the beast, neither do I, but he says that while he’s hunting for pigs he feels something is following him. Like if he was being hunted. We know how the littleuns feel but there’s no beast of course. The most important thing now is getting ourselves rescued; that I know for sure, and for that we need the fire going. But again, Jack only thinks that we’re here to hunt pigs and he wants to catch at least a pig before getting rescued. He wants to paint his face but NO! I won't let him, if he does that he will look like a savage. He’s crackers; what could be more important than being back home? Let's get our priorities straight, Jack. 

- Ralph 

We Must Make Fire

I suddenly have the best idea I could ever have! We want to be rescued and we shall be rescued. So in case a ship sails close to the island, we must make a smoke signal on top of the montain so they can see there is life here; or else we will never be found. We must make fire; to get rescued. We all run towards the top of the mountain excepct boring Piggy, who can't run because of his ass-mar. Sucks to his ass-mar! He's acting like a grownup when we are trying to have fun. I just made the conch rule mostly for his own good and he can't be happy with it.  

All the boys are collecting wood trunks and sticks to lit the fire and I assign Roger to light it with two sticks. Piggy has already catched up to us and I take his heavy spectacles and put it beneath the sun so the reflection can light the fire. I'm so smart! A total succes for the chief. I decide there has to be people guarding the fire so it doesn't run out at night because this is our key to getting rescued; the smoke of the signal fire. 

Suddenly, Piggy starts complaining how nobody pays attention to him and his ideas. He is freaking us all out, especially Jack. Maybe he's right, I haven't been the best of friends to him and he was the first boy I met on this island. Thanks to him I'm chief. I should be nicer to him and his intelligence might be of great help. OH NO!!! The fire has start spreading, everything is catching on fire! Thank you very much Piggy; if it hadn't been for your whinig we would be celebrating the fire but now every thing around us in flames. Now he's saying how we need shelters and we are worrying about unecessary things. Oh My Gosh... Where is the kid with the birthmark?!?

- Ralph 

There Is No Beast!

I bring the shiny conch to my lips again and blow on it hard for the second time that day. The boys gather around the platform while I'm sitting on a fallen trunk waiting for their attention. I explain myself and tell them what we've seen: we're in an island with no houses, no smoke, no footprints, no boats, no people; we are in an uninhabited island. They all stare in astonishment and not to my surprise, Jack butts in saying that we need an army for hunting -hunting pigs. It seems that's the only thing he cares about even though he missed the opportunity to kill one when we went exploring. I pretend like I care but I guess we could live off of fruit, no need to kill living things. "There aren't any grownups. We shall have to look after ourselves," I tell the boys. We need rules in order to stay free of chaos. The first rule I make is that the person who has the conch has the right to speak and not be interrupted except by me. Piggy seems to like this rule; he takes the conch and states his point: no one knows where we are so we might stay here a long time. This is true, but this is a good island; we'll have fun, there's no need to be desperate.
I am happy about my new rules when a little boy with a mulberry-colored birthmark takes my excitement away. He comes to the platform with this pathetic story that there is a "beastie", a snake thing that appears only at dark. Just when everything seemed to be in order, this boy has to come inventing fearful stories. I'm sure he only wants attention, all of the littleuns miss their families. Maybe it was just a dream or the creepers that he mistaked for a snake. I know there in no such thing as a beastie or a snake; there's nothing to be afraid of. Jack says they'll hunt it if there is one, but the thing is that there is not a beast in this island, so what's the point on saying they will hunt it down? I hope this whole beastie thing hasn't scared the boys. Now that I think about it, I am a little bit scared and I know Jack is too, even though he hides it pretty well. It's okay though, we'll be safe. We can have fun and Jack's hunters will killl the beast if there is one. But it's okay, there is no beast!  

- Ralph   

This Belongs To Us!

I open my eyes, blinking vaguely, trying to register the place that sorrounds me. It's all jungle, only trees and a beach. I soon remember the plane rising up in the sky, the plane full with other boys that were evacuated from England because the war was getting "dangerous"; at least that's what Daddy told me. The next thing I know, I'm here trapped in this stupid place I can't recognize. It seems that I'm lost; where are the other kids? I'm able to stand up within the next few minutes and make my way toward a lagoon. Soon, I hear another boy's cry; he wants to catch up to me. I look at him amazed, he's very weird and fat and wears spectacles on his eyes. He seems to be startled and only cares about the man with the megaphone. And then he goes on saying how this place is supposedly an island and there aren't any grownups around, and about how all the rest of the kids should be around somewhere. He's very smart indeed, and makes me realize that since there aren't any grownups there are no rules to follow either! That's the most important thing, but he worries about the pilot and about how we were attacked while we were on the plane. Atleast now I know how we got here: we were attacked. Pretty interesting.

The fat boy is called Piggy. He says he doesn't want to be called that but it's perfect for him, suits him well; he will stay with that name. He keeps on talking about this ass-mar sickness and about his Auntie. He's a total bore, unlike me; he's fat probably about my same age -I'm 12 and strong, but I'm no devil, I know where I stand. By the way, my Father is a commander in the Navy; he'll come save us, that's the only thing I'm positive about. Look! What is that? A thing's shining on the beach; a conch shell. I will use it to call the others! Piggy can't blow because of his ass-mar. Sucks to his ass-mar! I take it to my lips and blow on it hard. Many of the boys start appearing on the beach and walk towards the platform where I'm standing. A group of marching boys wearing black cloaks and caps. Jack Meridew is their leader, he is a little taller than me; he says they are the choir. 

Piggy is being a total bore again especially with Jack and I think no one really likes him. I told everyone his name was Piggy and they all laughed at him; I hope he's not mad or anything. Anyway, I decide that we need a chief to lead all the boys in the island. Jack claims he needs to be chief because he can sing C sharp but no-oh; they ellect me!!! I give Jack the right to control his choirboys, though, and they will be the hunters in our group. Jack, Simon, and me have just gone off exploring to see if the island is really uninhabited. I leave Piggy behind and I think he feels replaced, but whatever! I have Jack and Simon now, what could go wrong? We find a high mountain and climb to the top. This belongs to us!

- Ralph