In my reading, I came across a section in the book that we all knew was coming. That is, the moment when Jack finally fully rebels and questions Ralph's authority once and for all, forcing the boy to make a decision. When I was reading this passage, it struck a great familiarity in me. This passage is so much more than it seems as just Jack's ego erupting. This passage strikes so many strings that relate so greatly to real world problems. I think honestly one of our worst problems that lead to many other complications that is the difficulty that our society faces with accepting, or even just considering something that is different. This includes the power and confidence that we struggle to attain to stand up against someone in authority or not even a person but just the idea and not wanting to betray that idea because anything other than that is unacceptable. Therefore we just completely shut ourselves down to all other possibilities. In the sense of the book, when Jack took to the platform, they already knew what was going to happen. And in that moment, they already shut themselves to everything Jack has to say. They avoid eye contact, emotions, and all things that may lead them to see a different side of things. Something that might change their precious fixed views. They do not even give him a shot. I feel like this, in many ways, is the sad reality of our real world. Many people just do not listen because they do not want to have that possibility that there might be another option , another view, something other from the norm or the approved method. It really saddens me to think how many of these individuals our society unknowingly shuns. I think that we are such judgemental people. And many purposefully close themselves from these feelings of 'maybe there is another way other than what we are so comfortably used to 'because change is too much for us to handle. I think that everyone should be given a fair shot at everything. And change should be wanted in our lives and not ignored. This scene in the book really related to those great issues. I think Golding use this opportunity to once again relate this situation to the political reality underlaying the story.
The passage reads as is below;
There was a kind of sigh on the platform as if everyone knew what was coming. Jack's voice went up, tremulous yet determined, pushing against the uncooperative silence. "He's like Piggy. He says things like Piggy. He is not a proper chief. "Jack clutched the conch to him." He's a coward himself. "For a moment he paused and then went on." On top, when Roger and me went on-he stayed back. "" I went too! "" After. "The two boys glared at each other through screens of hair." I went on too, "said Ralph," then I ran away. So did you. "" Call me a coward then. "Jack turned to the hunters." He's not a hunter. He'd never have got us meat. He is not a prefect and we do not know anything about him. He just gives orders and expects people to obey for nothing. All this talk- "" All this talk! " shouted Ralph. "Talk, talk! Who wanted it? Who called the meeting?" Jack turned, red in the face, his chin sunk back. He glowered up under his eyebrows. "All right then," he said in tones of deep meaning, and menace, "all right." He held the conch against his chest with one hand and stabbed the air with his index finger. "Who thinks Ralph oughtn't to be chief?" He looked expectantly at the boys ranged round, who had frozen. Under the palms there was deadly silence. "Hands up," said Jack strongly, "whoever wants Ralph not to be chief?" The silence continued, breathless and heavy and full of shame. Slowly the red drained from Jack's cheeks , then came back with a painful rush. He licked his lips and turned his head at an angle, so that his gaze avoided the embarrassment of linking with another's eye. "How many think-" His voice tailed off. The hands that held the conch shook. He cleared his throat, and spoke loudly. "All right then." He laid the conch with great care in the grass at his feet. The humiliating tears were running from the corner of each eye. (page 126-127)
I really like what you had to say about this! Previously, I think a lot of the focus has been on Jack's evil side. But if the boys had taken time to consider him as a person, giving him a blank slate before judging him, I wonder if he would have stayed with the group. I tend to think that there was some reason to regard Jack with caution, but at the same time, I agree with your point about not refusing to see his point of view. Perhaps Jack's need for power and leadership was really only a mask for his need to be accepted and his fear of rejection.
ReplyDeleteWoah! This is really interesting, I never really thought of this before. :) How can we stop being judgemental if it is part of our human nature? Should schools start nurturing kids how not to be that way from a young age? Or is there good in having this kind of instinct?
ReplyDeleteThat's really true! For if the kids had listened to Simon then their problem would have been resolved a long time ago. But if you shut off people then they are less interested in commenting on the actions at all.
ReplyDeleteMonet,
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with your thoughts. One particular sentence you wrote I found of great interest, "I think that we are such judgemental people". I began wondering, who is a judgmental person? Are we all, is this our nature? To not only judge people by looks, like in the Human Zoo, but also by actions? I'v heard the question before, wod who are we to judge them? but it never made much sense to me until I read your post. I also wonder, to other species judge? Is this a factor that allows the human species to take over so easily?
Phoebe
Wow Monet this is really good! When you brought in how people have a problem accepting something as different I found that very true and relatable. I think that the title of your blog was a really bold and good statement. When saying that people are afraid of speaking up is something that prompts questions on whether this is because of our nature or our nurture?
ReplyDelete