Chapter 2: Fire on the Mountain Zach Trachtman, Alice Huang, Maya Lipshitz, Toni Pauwels
Brief Summary ● Ralph requests the boys to have a meeting on the beach. ● The boys discuss their future plan for survival on the island. ● Ralph introduces new ideas to the boys, such as only the person with the conch shell may speak. ● The boy with the mulberry birthmark introduces the idea of the “beastie” to all the boys, which frightens the group. ● Ralph suggest that they build a fire on the top of the mountain as a way to signal for rescue. ● The boys attempt to make a fire using wood found around the island and Piggy’s glasses lens. ● Jack’s group volunteers to watch the fire. Soon after, the fire spreads to the trees. ● After the fire, Piggy tells the boys that the boy with the mulberry birthmark has gone missing.
Ralph ● Leader ● In charge of the conch (talking privileges) … “I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he’s speaking” (Golding 33). ● Called the first meeting - order ● Signal fire … “There’s another thing. We can help them to find us. If a ship comes near the island they may not notice us. So we must make smoke on top of the mountain. We must make a fire” (Golding 38).
Piggy ● Brings in a sense of reality that they might be stuck on the island for a long time… “Nobody knows where are… Perhaps they knew where we was going to; and perhaps not. But they don’t know where we are ‘cos we never got there” (Golding 34). ● Glasses …. “His specs-- use them as burning glasses!” (Golding 40). ● Offers ideas but is often ignored.
Boy with the mulberry-colored mark ● Brings fear among the meeting by bringing up the beastie…. “He still says he saw the beastie. It came and went away again an’ came back and wanted to eat him--” (Golding 36). ● Goes missing… “That little ‘un that had a mark on his face - where is - he now? I’ll tell you I don’t see him” (Golding 46).
Jack ● Need hunters to hunt for food …. “Ralph’s right of course. There isn’t a snake-think. But if there was a snake we’d hunt it and kill it. We’re going to hunt pigs to get meat for everybody. And we’ll look for the snake too--” (Golding 36). ● Agrees with most of Ralph’s decisions
Freudian Psychology Id ● occasional reversion to uncivilized manner ○ after suggestion for a fire- “At once half the boys were on their feet. Jack clamored among them, the conch forgotten.” (38) Superego ● a sense of morality ○ Jack- “‘We’ll have rules!’ he cried excitedly. ‘Lots of rules!’”(33) ○ Ralph- “‘I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak...and he won’t be interrupted. Except by me.’” (33)
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs ● still low on the pyramid ● some physiological needs are met ○ “There’s food and drink...and bathing water in that little stream...and everything.” (34-35) ● working on second/third levels ○ “Ralph found himself alone on a limb with Jack and they grinned at each other, sharing this burden.” (39)
Significance of Chapter ● Introduction to the idea of the “beastie”. ● The conch is introduced, which is the first form of organization for the group. ● First experience of Jack not showing responsibility (Foreshadows future events).
Symbolism ● Piggy’s Glasses symbolizes knowledge,reason and logic-used as source of light ○ “...labouring cautiously out of the forest with the evening sunlight gleaming from his glasses” (Golding 39). ○ “Jus’ blurs,that’s all.Hardly see [his] hand-”(Golding 40). ● The Conch is introduced in this chapter;establishes a form of gov’t ○ “[Ralph and Piggy] can use this to call the others”(Golding 16) ● Signal Fire represents hope and the motivation to be rescued. ○ “To keep a clean flag of flame flying on the mountain was the immediate end and no one looked further”(Golding 41). ● Beastie represents the product of the boy’s imagination ○ “He still says he saw the beastie. It came and went away again an’ came back and wanted to eat him”(Golding 36).
Allusions ● “This is our island. It’s a good island. Until the grownups come to fetch us we’ll have fun”(Golding 35)-> Alludes to Garden of Eden-> the island is a paradise ● “...the beastie or the snake-thing was real”(Golding 52)-> Reference to the beast as the Satan (the snake) that was in the Garden of Eden.
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