Chapter 7

Summary

On their way back to the signal fire, Ralph realizes that rescue is going to be very difficult. Strangely, Simon predicts that Ralph will be rescued.  They indulge in a pig-hunt and Ralph gets caught up in the thrill of the hunt, and much to his surprise enjoys it.  The boar they are chasing escapes so they pick on a boy as prey in a mock hunt and he ends up getting hurt.  Ralph is disturbed by the group’s actions and his own, and using his authority urges them on to the mountain signal fire.

Simon volunteers to go across the island to tell Piggy and the littluns what is happening.

Darkness falls when they reach the mountaintop, and there is the beast, the dead parachutist rising and falling as the wind catches his parachute. The boys flee in terror.

Interpretation

There are some important passages here, which mark Jack’s rise to power and Ralph’s surrender to the attractions of the darker side in joining in the mock hunt.

Is our hero also slipping down Jack’s road?  The answer is, of course, no as there can only be one leader and Ralph cannot replace Jack as he is the best one to hunt and kill the beast.

After the mock hunt with Robert, the suggestion was that they hunt a littlun next time. This is not treated with horror, but rather with humor.  It should be noted that at this stage only Jack and Roger are far enough gone to contemplate hunting littluns. 

Roger has already shown his cruelty by throwing stones at littluns in an earlier chapter. He is a mean-spirited boy who will show evil and sadistic tendencies towards the end of the book.  He is in sharp contrast to Simon who is a spiritual and mystical figure and shows true regard for the smaller boys.