LotF Chapter 1 Thesis: In chapter one of Lord of the Flies, William Golding begins to develop thematic concepts regarding the environment, otherness, and power that will be important throughout the rest of the novel.

LotF Chapter One: Environment Thematic Question #1: Is the island an good place? Is there anything to fear? Is the world a good place?

Is the island a good place? Is there anything to fear? Evidence #1: The available food Piggy has diarrhea attacks on p. 9 and p. 12. “Them fruit” (10) Evidence #2: The climate Personification regarding the heat and sun “With that word the heat seemed to increase till it became a threatening weight and the lagoon attacked them with a blinding effulgence” (14). “He trotted through the sand, enduring the sun’s enmity” (14).

Is the island a good place? Is there anything to fear? Evidence #3: An abnormal world Imagery: Green and reversed shadows Ralph “stood there . . . with green shadows from the palms and the forest sliding over his skin” (10). “All the shadows on Ralph’s face were reversed; green above, bright below from the lagoon” (15).

Is the island a good place? Is there anything to fear? Golding describes the island as generally benevolent and understandable, but subtly introduces reasons to doubt its goodness, and to fear.

LotF Chapter One: Otherness Thematic Concept #2: “Otherness” In this new society, who is “in” and who is “out”? How is Piggy isolated as “the other”?

B. Otherness Evidence #1: Piggy’s differences “He was shorter than the fair boy and very fat . . . and looked up through thick spectacles” (7). “My asthma--” “Sucks to your ass-mar!” (13). “My dad’s dead. . . and my mum--” (13).

B. Otherness Evidence #2: Piggy on the outside “He’s not Fatty, . . . his real name’s Piggy.” “For the moment the boys were a closed circuit of sympathy with Piggy outside” (21).

B. Otherness Evidence #3: Piggy, removed from leadership “You’re no good for a job like this.” “All the same--” “We don’t want you,” said Jack flatly” (24).

B. Otherness Evidence #4: Two other outsiders “There was a slight, furtive boy whom no one knew, who kept to himself with an inner intensity of avoidance and secrecy. . . . his name was Roger” (22). “The choir boy who had fainted . . . said that his name was Simon” (22).

B. Otherness From the first chapter of the book, Golding illustrates how outsiders are created in this society, partly by their own characteristics and actions and partly by the in-group’s need to reinforce unity by designating “others.”

LotF Chapter One: Power Thematic concept #3: How is power established and held? Power through authority and rank Power through appearance and popularity Power and symbols of power The joy of power and control Giving power away

C. How is power established and held? Evidence #1: Jack: power by authority and rank “The boy who controlled them was dressed in the same way though his cap badge was golden” (19). “I ought to be chief because I am chapter chorister and head boy” (21) Piggy “was intimidated by this uniformed superiority and the off-hand authority in Merridew’s voice” (21).

C. How is power established and held? Evidence #2: Ralph: power by appearance and popularity “. . . the general wish for . . an election by acclaim of Ralph himself” (22). “There was a stillness about Ralph. . . , there was his size and attractive appearance; and . . . there was the conch” (22).

C. How is power established and held? Evidence #3: Symbols of power “. . . intimidated by this uniformed superiority” (21). “Him with the shell” (22). “Ralph smiled and held up the conch for silence” (23)

C. How is power established and held? Evidence #4: The joy of power and control “‘He’s not Fatty,’ cried Ralph, ‘his real name is Piggy!’” (21) “‘Heave!’ The great rock . . . smashed a deep hole in the canopy of the forest” (28).

C. How is power established and held? Evidence #5: Given power away “Seems to me we ought to have a chief to decide things” (22). “I’ve got to have time to think things out. I can’t decide what to do straight off” (23).

How is power established and held? From the very first hours that the boys are on the island, Golding shows them engaged in exercising power over others, competing for power, and delegating power to an individual. He also makes a point of showing that using power to control people and things is fun!

Significant Passage “I was choosing a place,” said Jack. “I was just waiting for a moment to decide where to stab him.” “You should stick a pig,” said Ralph fiercely. “They always talk about sticking a pig.” “You cut a pig’s throat to let the blood out,” said Jack, “otherwise you can’t eat the meat.” “Why didn’t you--?” They knew very well why he hadn’t: because of the enormity of the knife descending and cutting into living flesh; because of the unbearable blood. “I was going to,” said Jack. ...“I was choosing a place. Next time--!” (31)

Summary By the end of the first chapter, we don’t know how the plot will develop in the coming chapters, but in these 25 pages Golding has laid the groundwork for a story whose conflict and themes are built around issues of leadership and power, a paradise that still arouses fear, and three outsiders, only one of whom will survive to the end of the novel.

Discussion Questions Did Golding make a good choice in having Simon be the third member of the group that goes to the mountain top? How and why do objects come to have power in the real world? 3. The boys seem to be giving Ralph the power “to decide things.” Why would they give away so much power?