Chapter 3

Summary

Jack picks up a trail of a pig, which he decides he will hunt alone, however, he is unable to catch it. Frustrated and annoyed he returns to the area set aside for the huts, which Ralph and Simon are working on. They are angry that the rest of the boys will not help in the construction of the shelters, they play, swim or use hunting as an excuse for not working. Ralph tries to stress the importance of secure shelters and for Jack and hunters to provide meat, which so far they have failed to do. The early good relationship between Ralph and Jack shows signs of breaking down. They now have a mutual dislike for each other.

After helping Ralph, Simon wanders off to explore the island.  He helps some littluns to get fruit from a branch beyond their reach. He finds a secret shelter in the thick of the jungle made of vines, trees and rocks.  He wonders at the abundance of nature around him.

Interpretation

Ralph has strong ideas about how life should be on the island. The aim is to preserve some sort of civilized behavior. However, he is finding that what is agreed at meetings is not being carried out in practice. The building of the shelters is proving difficult, as Ralph and Simon are mainly doing this.

Jack and the hunters have failed to provide any meat.  Jack could help Ralph enforce his authority, but he does not share Ralph’s vision of how life should be on the island.  He is fast degenerating into a wild hunter of the jungle, and seems oblivious to the need to work for safety and rescue.  Jack sees his sole purpose as a hunter and is frustrated that he has not succeeded as yet.

Simon has a need to be apart from the others and he has a private place where he can be alone and safe.  He is a mysterious boy regarded as odd by Ralph and the others. He is, in fact, the only one who really cares about the littluns.