Lord of the Flies: Chapter 8

"I'm not going to play any longer. Not with you."

I found this chapter very interesting. A lot of things happen, but I want to focus on what I find to be the biggest moment -- when Jack and Ralph finally break into two separate groups. Anyone who reads this book can see that this moment is coming from the very beginning of the story; right off the bat, the two boys fall into conflict, and it only worsens as the chapters go on. Finally, they snap, and Jack decides he doesn't want to be under Ralph's rule anymore. He wants to be on his own, and he runs off.

The way in which this happens is what absolutely breaks my heart. Jack calls a meeting and tries to convince everyone that Ralph isn't worthy of being a leader, saying he isn't a hunter, he isn't brave, and that he isn't a good leader because he talks like Piggy. Since they landed on the island, Jack has continually been trying to turn the other boys against Ralph, and he thinks he's finally done it now. So he asks, "Who thinks Ralph oughtn't to be chief?" But no one says a thing. Again, he tries: "Hands up whoever wants Ralph not to be chief?" But no one raises a hand. He almost tries a third time before falling silent, and it's in that moment that he realizes the truth.

No matter how hard he tries, the group is still going to stay with Ralph. 

He's absolutely humiliated and begins crying with his embarrassment, and although I think I'm the only one who thought so, I could feel my heart break for him. I just wanted to give him a hug. Jack is the antagonist, the villain -- he's mean and rude and doesn't care about the other boys, but I've got a massive soft spot for him and this was like a punch to the gut. Seeing him break down like that and decide that he didn't want to be with the rest of them reminded me that he is only twelve years old. He's a kid. None of the boys on that island have a single clue about what they're doing, and I think I've forgotten that during this novel. But here's Jack, crying because no one wants to be on his side, and then running off and becoming this hardened, savage chief again later in the chapter.

What struck me most about this is the way Jack worded his proclamation that he wasn't going to be under Ralph's rule any longer. He said, "I'm not going to play any longer. Not with you." It's interesting that he used the word play, as though this was all some grand game and he could decide when he wanted to quit. They're struggling for survival, struggling for power, and struggling to be rescued, but I almost think Jack does see it as something of a game. And he's determined to come out on top, even if that means abandoning the group and going alone.