We're scared. What are we going to do without Piggy's glasses? Last night Jack and three other boys sneaked into our camp. At first we thought it was the beast but then we heard someone whispering “Piggy, oh Piggy.” It was so creepy because we thought they were going to kill Piggy. We're scared because now it's just us and Ralph and Piggy. All the other boys went with Jack. Jack's kind of scary all painted up. We like Ralph but sometimes he's as bad as our teachers back at school. He has all of these rules and he even wants us to take a bath before we go over to Castle Rock. He's crazy. What difference does it make? Besides we jump into the lagoon anyway and that’s the same as taking a bath.
We're scared. What are we going to do? We didn't want to go to Castle Rock but it would be too scary to stay here by ourselves. Since we were going why couldn't we paint ourselves up just like Jack? That would have been fun. That's the trouble with Ralph. He's no fun. He's always talking about the signal fire and he always wants us to find wood and work. We knew we shouldn't have gone to see Jack because when we got there bad things happened. Jack and Ralph are always fighting about who is the leader. Why can't they both be leaders? Ralph could be like our mom and Jack could be our dad and Piggy is like our babysitter. Why can't we have Ralph's rules and Jack's fun and hunting? Nobody's listening to Ralph anymore but they should because he wants to protect us.
We're scared. What are we going to do? Piggy is dead. Roger killed him and then they tried to kill Ralph. Next it will be us. What are we going to do? We hear the other kids screaming and laughing like hyenas. They have pig blood painted all over them and they dance around us as we lay in the middle of the circle just like Si... don't want to think about that. We're scared. What are we going to do? Who is going to save us?
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Blog 13 (Revision of blog 9)
Ralph made a joke about it but I seriously wish I could write to my auntie and tell her to come and get me. Things are getting out of control.
“We murdered Simon,” said Ralph.
“No, it was an accident and it was dark and we thought it was the beast,” I said.
“We wanna go home,” whined SamnEric. “We miss our mom.” They both started sniveling.
“We’ve just got to keep the fire going and try to forget about all of this bad stuff,” stated Ralph matter-of-factly. “SamnEric you guys get some wood for our signal fire.”
After SamnEric left, Ralph sat huddled in a heap with his head in his hands. He looked miserable and alone. I tried to make him feel better. I told Ralph that we were all scared by the storm and that crazy dance and that Simon was crazy for crawling out of the jungle when it was dark. I told him that it was an accident but Ralph doesn't seem to believe me. We shouldn't feel bad because we weren't part of it. We were standing on the outside of the circle. Ralph is losing it. He seems to be giving in and he's forgetting things like why we need to keep the fire going.
But how are we going to keep the fire going now that Jack has stolen my specs? I shudder when I think about when the boys sneaked up on us. I couldn't breathe and I felt like a huge fist was covering my face trying to smother me. I could hear Sam and Eric's stifled screams. In the daylight, seeing the beautiful phosphorescence of the ocean, I think back to last night's invasion and it just seems like a horrible dream. I start walking on the beach towards the other boys. As I get closer to them I can see a blurry figure who I think is Ralph gesticulating wildly. I think he's talking to Sam and Eric but I should go see what's making him so excited.
“We murdered Simon,” said Ralph.
“No, it was an accident and it was dark and we thought it was the beast,” I said.
“We wanna go home,” whined SamnEric. “We miss our mom.” They both started sniveling.
“We’ve just got to keep the fire going and try to forget about all of this bad stuff,” stated Ralph matter-of-factly. “SamnEric you guys get some wood for our signal fire.”
After SamnEric left, Ralph sat huddled in a heap with his head in his hands. He looked miserable and alone. I tried to make him feel better. I told Ralph that we were all scared by the storm and that crazy dance and that Simon was crazy for crawling out of the jungle when it was dark. I told him that it was an accident but Ralph doesn't seem to believe me. We shouldn't feel bad because we weren't part of it. We were standing on the outside of the circle. Ralph is losing it. He seems to be giving in and he's forgetting things like why we need to keep the fire going.
But how are we going to keep the fire going now that Jack has stolen my specs? I shudder when I think about when the boys sneaked up on us. I couldn't breathe and I felt like a huge fist was covering my face trying to smother me. I could hear Sam and Eric's stifled screams. In the daylight, seeing the beautiful phosphorescence of the ocean, I think back to last night's invasion and it just seems like a horrible dream. I start walking on the beach towards the other boys. As I get closer to them I can see a blurry figure who I think is Ralph gesticulating wildly. I think he's talking to Sam and Eric but I should go see what's making him so excited.
Blog 12 Jack''s Trial- The Prosecutor
Evidence for killing Piggy:
1. First Jack broke Piggy’s glasses and then Jack stole his specs so that Piggy was helpless and couldn’t see the rock that was pushed down the mountain that killed him.
2. From the very beginning Jack hates Piggy because Piggy is physically weak. Jack only values physical strength. He makes fun of Piggy so all the boys imitate Jack and make fun of Piggy as well.
3. Jack makes up the chant “kill the pig” and this chant always causes the boys to be frenzied, crazed, unthinking savages. “Kill the pig” could be seen as being close to “kill the piggy” so it’s not a surprise when Piggy is finally killed.
4. Piggy wants Ralph to remain the leader because he knows that he is protected and won’t be hurt by Jack as long as Ralph is the leader. When Piggy is killed, Ralph is no longer the leader and after Piggy dies Jack screams “that’s what you’ll get” and he throws his spear at Ralph.
5. Even though Roger is the one who pushed the rock down the mountain, Piggy’s murder is still Jack’s fault because Jack has always encouraged Roger’s sadistic behavior. For instance Roger throws stones at Henry, and Roger tortures Sam and Eric and Jack never tells him to stop it.
6. Jack is a sadist. He bullies kids and intimidates them such as when he ties up and beast Wilfred. He also likes blood. After he kills the first pig he says, “you should have seen the blood.”
Evidence for killing Simon:
1. Jack knows that the beast is not real but he keeps pretending that it is so that the boys will continue to be afraid. Jack rules through fear and he controls the boys by making them believe that he will protect them. Jack is the one who makes all the boys do their dance because they’re all afraid of the thunderstorm. He makes Roger pretend to be the pig and all the boys start chanting “kill the beast, cut his throat, spill his blood.” All the boys were in a frenzy when Simon crawled out of the jungle and kill him. (Pg. 151)
2. Simon’s murder was a mistake and it was not premeditated but Jack created the emotional state of mind that allowed the boys to kill Simon. All the boys are involved. “The crowd… leapt onto the beast, screamed, struck, bit, tore.”
Opening Statement
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the prosecution will prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that the defendant, Jack Merridew, is guilty of two counts of murder. We will show that Mr. Merridew was fully responsible for the deaths of Simon and Piggy when the boys were stranded on an island without adult supervision.
We will show that Jack quickly became a sadistic savage who believed that the rules and laws of civilization did not apply to him. He constantly fought against and disobeyed Ralph who was the democratically elected leader of the boys. He valued killing above all other activities and constantly tried to convince the other boys to follow him and not listen to Ralph.
Although the circumstances surrounding Simon’s death were accidental, the prosecution will show that Jack’s behavior caused the boys to act as killers. Jack ruled his boys through fear and he made them follow him because they believed that he could protect them. We will show that Jack knew that the beast was not real but he pretended it was so that all the boys would continue to be afraid.
One of Jack’s strategies to make the boys feel braver was that he created the death chant, “kill the beast, cut his throat, spill his blood.” Also Jack created the dance where a boy pretended to be a pig while all the other boys stood around him and pretended to spear him to death. It was in the middle of this crazed dance that Simon stumbled out from the jungle and all the boys fell upon him and killed him.
The prosecution will also present evidence that shows that Jack was responsible for Piggy’s death. Shortly after the boys crashed, Jack broke Piggy’s glasses making Piggy even more helpless than he already was. Then Jack raided Ralph’s camp and stole Piggy’s glasses. This final act was a death sentence for Piggy because without his specs he could not see the rock tumbling down the mountain towards him that killed him.
The prosecution will also show that from the very beginning Jack’s hatred of Piggy influenced all the boys. Jack hated Piggy because Piggy was fat and physically weak. Jack believed in the law of the jungle, which states that only the strong survive. Jack makes up the chant “kill the pig” and this chant always causes the boys to be frenzied, crazed, unthinking savages. “Kill the pig” could be seen as being close to “kill the piggy” so it’s not a surprise when Piggy is finally killed. Piggy wants Ralph to remain the leader because he knows that he is protected and won’t be hurt by Jack as long as Ralph is the leader. When Piggy is killed, Ralph is no longer the leader and after Piggy dies Jack screams “that’s what you’ll get” and he throws his spear at Ralph.
Questions for Witnesses
Ralph
1. When Jack threw his spear at you and then hunted you, did you think that he was going to kill you?
2. Were you afraid of Jack?
3. Was Jack a bully?
Sam and Eric
1. Did Jack’s boys ever hurt you?
2. Were you afraid of Jack?
3. When Jack kidnapped you and tied you up did you want to be part of his tribe?
Piggy’s Auntie
1. How well could Piggy see without his glasses?
2. If Piggy had been wearing his specs could he have seen the rock coming towards him and gotten out of the way?
3. Since Jack stole his glasses do you believe that Jack is responsible for Piggy’s death?
Naval Officer
1. When you arrived on the beach what was Ralph doing?
2. How did all the boys look?
3. Do you think that they were playing a game or was the hunt real?
Roger
1. What do you admire about Jack?
2. When you pushed the rock down the mountain and killed Piggy how did you feel?
3. When you were torturing Wilfred and Sam and Eric did you believe that this was wrong?
Jack’s Parents
1. Did Jack ever get in trouble at school for being a bully?
2. When Jack played with other boys what kinds of games did he like to play?
3. Did Jack ever steal anything?
Percival
1. Were you afraid of Jack?
2. Why did you choose to join Jack’s tribe?
3. Do you think that Ralph or Jack was the better leader?
Maurice
1. Why did you choose to go with Jack to steal Piggy’s glasses?
2. Why didn’t you just ask Piggy if you could borrow his glasses?
3. How did you feel when you knocked over the littluns’ sandcastles?
Robert
1. When you pretended to be the pig, were you hurt?
2. Were you afraid during this activity?
3. Were you afraid of Jack?
Closing Statement
Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, we believe that the constitution has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that the defendant, Jack Merridew, is a sadistic bully without conscience or regard for the laws and appropriate behavior that are part of civilized society. Jack chose to be a savage criminal on this island. He disobeyed Ralph’s rules that provided structure and order. Ralph was the elected leader and Jack intentionally broke away from this group and formed his own tribe of savage hunters. He ruled this group through fear and physical violence. The boys of Jack’s tribe paid no attention to morals or good behavior. They simply did what they wanted to do and never stopped to say to themselves, “Is this a good way to behave?” or “is this right?”
From the beginning Jack was a boy who was obsessed with hunting and killing pigs. Then he became a complete savage and the sport of hunting pigs became boring. He needed more excitement so he invented the sport of hunting and killing human beings.
You the jury have the responsibility to render a verdict of guilty for two counts of murder. Jack is responsible for the deaths of Simon and Piggy. It is true that he did not push the rock down the mountain that killed Piggy. But he was responsible for creating a tribe of boys who no longer had good moral behavior and who didn’t value human life. It is true that Jack alone that Jack did not kill Simon. But he was responsible for creating the frenzied crazed behavior through his chant and dance that led to Simon’s death.
Jack is guilty of murder. The prosecution rests.
1. First Jack broke Piggy’s glasses and then Jack stole his specs so that Piggy was helpless and couldn’t see the rock that was pushed down the mountain that killed him.
2. From the very beginning Jack hates Piggy because Piggy is physically weak. Jack only values physical strength. He makes fun of Piggy so all the boys imitate Jack and make fun of Piggy as well.
3. Jack makes up the chant “kill the pig” and this chant always causes the boys to be frenzied, crazed, unthinking savages. “Kill the pig” could be seen as being close to “kill the piggy” so it’s not a surprise when Piggy is finally killed.
4. Piggy wants Ralph to remain the leader because he knows that he is protected and won’t be hurt by Jack as long as Ralph is the leader. When Piggy is killed, Ralph is no longer the leader and after Piggy dies Jack screams “that’s what you’ll get” and he throws his spear at Ralph.
5. Even though Roger is the one who pushed the rock down the mountain, Piggy’s murder is still Jack’s fault because Jack has always encouraged Roger’s sadistic behavior. For instance Roger throws stones at Henry, and Roger tortures Sam and Eric and Jack never tells him to stop it.
6. Jack is a sadist. He bullies kids and intimidates them such as when he ties up and beast Wilfred. He also likes blood. After he kills the first pig he says, “you should have seen the blood.”
Evidence for killing Simon:
1. Jack knows that the beast is not real but he keeps pretending that it is so that the boys will continue to be afraid. Jack rules through fear and he controls the boys by making them believe that he will protect them. Jack is the one who makes all the boys do their dance because they’re all afraid of the thunderstorm. He makes Roger pretend to be the pig and all the boys start chanting “kill the beast, cut his throat, spill his blood.” All the boys were in a frenzy when Simon crawled out of the jungle and kill him. (Pg. 151)
2. Simon’s murder was a mistake and it was not premeditated but Jack created the emotional state of mind that allowed the boys to kill Simon. All the boys are involved. “The crowd… leapt onto the beast, screamed, struck, bit, tore.”
Opening Statement
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the prosecution will prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that the defendant, Jack Merridew, is guilty of two counts of murder. We will show that Mr. Merridew was fully responsible for the deaths of Simon and Piggy when the boys were stranded on an island without adult supervision.
We will show that Jack quickly became a sadistic savage who believed that the rules and laws of civilization did not apply to him. He constantly fought against and disobeyed Ralph who was the democratically elected leader of the boys. He valued killing above all other activities and constantly tried to convince the other boys to follow him and not listen to Ralph.
Although the circumstances surrounding Simon’s death were accidental, the prosecution will show that Jack’s behavior caused the boys to act as killers. Jack ruled his boys through fear and he made them follow him because they believed that he could protect them. We will show that Jack knew that the beast was not real but he pretended it was so that all the boys would continue to be afraid.
One of Jack’s strategies to make the boys feel braver was that he created the death chant, “kill the beast, cut his throat, spill his blood.” Also Jack created the dance where a boy pretended to be a pig while all the other boys stood around him and pretended to spear him to death. It was in the middle of this crazed dance that Simon stumbled out from the jungle and all the boys fell upon him and killed him.
The prosecution will also present evidence that shows that Jack was responsible for Piggy’s death. Shortly after the boys crashed, Jack broke Piggy’s glasses making Piggy even more helpless than he already was. Then Jack raided Ralph’s camp and stole Piggy’s glasses. This final act was a death sentence for Piggy because without his specs he could not see the rock tumbling down the mountain towards him that killed him.
The prosecution will also show that from the very beginning Jack’s hatred of Piggy influenced all the boys. Jack hated Piggy because Piggy was fat and physically weak. Jack believed in the law of the jungle, which states that only the strong survive. Jack makes up the chant “kill the pig” and this chant always causes the boys to be frenzied, crazed, unthinking savages. “Kill the pig” could be seen as being close to “kill the piggy” so it’s not a surprise when Piggy is finally killed. Piggy wants Ralph to remain the leader because he knows that he is protected and won’t be hurt by Jack as long as Ralph is the leader. When Piggy is killed, Ralph is no longer the leader and after Piggy dies Jack screams “that’s what you’ll get” and he throws his spear at Ralph.
Questions for Witnesses
Ralph
1. When Jack threw his spear at you and then hunted you, did you think that he was going to kill you?
2. Were you afraid of Jack?
3. Was Jack a bully?
Sam and Eric
1. Did Jack’s boys ever hurt you?
2. Were you afraid of Jack?
3. When Jack kidnapped you and tied you up did you want to be part of his tribe?
Piggy’s Auntie
1. How well could Piggy see without his glasses?
2. If Piggy had been wearing his specs could he have seen the rock coming towards him and gotten out of the way?
3. Since Jack stole his glasses do you believe that Jack is responsible for Piggy’s death?
Naval Officer
1. When you arrived on the beach what was Ralph doing?
2. How did all the boys look?
3. Do you think that they were playing a game or was the hunt real?
Roger
1. What do you admire about Jack?
2. When you pushed the rock down the mountain and killed Piggy how did you feel?
3. When you were torturing Wilfred and Sam and Eric did you believe that this was wrong?
Jack’s Parents
1. Did Jack ever get in trouble at school for being a bully?
2. When Jack played with other boys what kinds of games did he like to play?
3. Did Jack ever steal anything?
Percival
1. Were you afraid of Jack?
2. Why did you choose to join Jack’s tribe?
3. Do you think that Ralph or Jack was the better leader?
Maurice
1. Why did you choose to go with Jack to steal Piggy’s glasses?
2. Why didn’t you just ask Piggy if you could borrow his glasses?
3. How did you feel when you knocked over the littluns’ sandcastles?
Robert
1. When you pretended to be the pig, were you hurt?
2. Were you afraid during this activity?
3. Were you afraid of Jack?
Closing Statement
Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, we believe that the constitution has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that the defendant, Jack Merridew, is a sadistic bully without conscience or regard for the laws and appropriate behavior that are part of civilized society. Jack chose to be a savage criminal on this island. He disobeyed Ralph’s rules that provided structure and order. Ralph was the elected leader and Jack intentionally broke away from this group and formed his own tribe of savage hunters. He ruled this group through fear and physical violence. The boys of Jack’s tribe paid no attention to morals or good behavior. They simply did what they wanted to do and never stopped to say to themselves, “Is this a good way to behave?” or “is this right?”
From the beginning Jack was a boy who was obsessed with hunting and killing pigs. Then he became a complete savage and the sport of hunting pigs became boring. He needed more excitement so he invented the sport of hunting and killing human beings.
You the jury have the responsibility to render a verdict of guilty for two counts of murder. Jack is responsible for the deaths of Simon and Piggy. It is true that he did not push the rock down the mountain that killed Piggy. But he was responsible for creating a tribe of boys who no longer had good moral behavior and who didn’t value human life. It is true that Jack alone that Jack did not kill Simon. But he was responsible for creating the frenzied crazed behavior through his chant and dance that led to Simon’s death.
Jack is guilty of murder. The prosecution rests.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Blog 11 (Naval Officer's Perspective)
Imagine my surprise when we saw the smoke rising from this uninhabited island. When I landed on the beach I saw the most amazing sight... a bunch of little boys, filthy, painted like little savages romping on the sand, pretending to be warriors. Cute but strange. No adults to be found. Incredible really that they were able to survive on their own. It seems that this one little boy was the leader and kept them all alive during this strange and frightening experience. He must be quite a smart lad since he told me that only two boys died during this time.
Children will be children no matter where they are and even in this strange situation they find the time to play and relax. When I arrived, it was quite cute because they were chasing the leader in some kind of game like tag and I could hear the ululations coming from their tiny mouths. The boy was pretending to cower as the other boys approached.
When I asked the boy to elaborate, he simply broke down and started crying, his chest heaving with huge sobs, because he must have been so relieved to be rescued. It's hard for me to visualize what they have been through since their plane crashed. But they all seem healthy and once they have a good bath and hair cuts they will be back to normal and forget about everything that happened on this island. They will be so happy to see their parents again and I'm sure that they are looking forward to having cooked meat for dinner again. It must be so boring to just eat fruit everyday.
These boys are so cute even though they look like little savages. Thank goodness my crew and I saw the smoke. The boys were quite clever to start this fire as a signal even though they seem to be a little careless and let the fire get of of control. They should have been more careful because they might have hurt themselves.
Children will be children no matter where they are and even in this strange situation they find the time to play and relax. When I arrived, it was quite cute because they were chasing the leader in some kind of game like tag and I could hear the ululations coming from their tiny mouths. The boy was pretending to cower as the other boys approached.
When I asked the boy to elaborate, he simply broke down and started crying, his chest heaving with huge sobs, because he must have been so relieved to be rescued. It's hard for me to visualize what they have been through since their plane crashed. But they all seem healthy and once they have a good bath and hair cuts they will be back to normal and forget about everything that happened on this island. They will be so happy to see their parents again and I'm sure that they are looking forward to having cooked meat for dinner again. It must be so boring to just eat fruit everyday.
These boys are so cute even though they look like little savages. Thank goodness my crew and I saw the smoke. The boys were quite clever to start this fire as a signal even though they seem to be a little careless and let the fire get of of control. They should have been more careful because they might have hurt themselves.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Blog 10 ( Sam and Eric's Perspective)
We're scared. What are we going to do without Piggy's glasses? We're scared because now it's just us and Ralph and Piggy. All the other boys went with Jack and even though Jack's kind of scary all painted up they seem to be having more fun over there. We like Ralph but sometimes he's as bad as our teachers back at school. He has all of these rules and he even wants us to take a bath before we go over to Castle Rock. He's crazy. What difference does it make? Besides we jump into the lagoon anyway.
We're scared. What are we going to do? We didn't want to go to Castle Rock but it would be too scary to stay here by ourselves. Since we were going why couldn't we paint ourselves up just like Jack? That would have been fun. That's the trouble with Ralph. He's no fun. He's always talking about the signal fire and he always wants us to find wood and work. We knew we shouldn't have gone to see Jack because when we got there bad things happened. Jack and Ralph are always fighting about who is the leader. Why can't they both be leaders? Ralph could be like our mom and Jack could be our dad and Piggy is like our babysitter. Why can't we have Ralph's rules and Jack's fun and hunting? Nobody's listening to Ralph anymore but they should because he wants to protect us.
We're scared. What are we going to do? Piggy is dead. Roger killed him and then they tried to kill Ralph. Next it will be us. What are we going to do? We hear the other kids screaming and laughing like hyenas. They have pig blood painted all over them and they dance around us as we lay in the middle of the circle just like Si... don't want to think about that. We're scared. What are we going to do? Who is going to save us?
We're scared. What are we going to do? We didn't want to go to Castle Rock but it would be too scary to stay here by ourselves. Since we were going why couldn't we paint ourselves up just like Jack? That would have been fun. That's the trouble with Ralph. He's no fun. He's always talking about the signal fire and he always wants us to find wood and work. We knew we shouldn't have gone to see Jack because when we got there bad things happened. Jack and Ralph are always fighting about who is the leader. Why can't they both be leaders? Ralph could be like our mom and Jack could be our dad and Piggy is like our babysitter. Why can't we have Ralph's rules and Jack's fun and hunting? Nobody's listening to Ralph anymore but they should because he wants to protect us.
We're scared. What are we going to do? Piggy is dead. Roger killed him and then they tried to kill Ralph. Next it will be us. What are we going to do? We hear the other kids screaming and laughing like hyenas. They have pig blood painted all over them and they dance around us as we lay in the middle of the circle just like Si... don't want to think about that. We're scared. What are we going to do? Who is going to save us?
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Blog 9 (Piggy's Perspective)
Ralph made a joke about it but I seriously wish I could write to my auntie and tell her to come and get me. Things are getting out of control. Ralph said that the other boys murdered Simon but that's not true. I told Ralph that we were all scared by the storm and that crazy dance and that Simon was crazy for crawling out of the jungle when it was dark. I told him that it was an accident but Ralph doesn't seem to believe me. We shouldn't feel bad because we weren't part of it. We were standing on the outside of the circle. Ralph is losing it. He seems to be giving in and he's forgetting things like why we need to keep the fire going.
But how are we going to keep the fire going now that Jack has stolen my specs? I shudder when I think about when the boys sneaked up on us. I couldn't breathe and I felt like a huge fist was covering my face trying to smother me. I could hear Sam and Eric's stifled screams. In the daylight, seeing the beautiful phosphorescence of the ocean, I think back to last night's invasion and it just seems like a horrible dream. In the distance I can see a blurry figure who I think is Ralph gesticulating wildly. I think he's talking to Sam and Eric but I should go see what's making him so excited.
But how are we going to keep the fire going now that Jack has stolen my specs? I shudder when I think about when the boys sneaked up on us. I couldn't breathe and I felt like a huge fist was covering my face trying to smother me. I could hear Sam and Eric's stifled screams. In the daylight, seeing the beautiful phosphorescence of the ocean, I think back to last night's invasion and it just seems like a horrible dream. In the distance I can see a blurry figure who I think is Ralph gesticulating wildly. I think he's talking to Sam and Eric but I should go see what's making him so excited.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Blog 8 (Simon's Perspective)
It's so hot and I'm so thirsty and the sign of Jack's moral corruption is right here before me, covered with flies and laughing at me. The sweat is trickling down my body just like the blood is trickling down the pig's head. The Lord of the Flies has told me what I already know. The beast cannot be hunted and killed because the beast is in all of us. It is that dark place in our heart that is usually hidden by civilization's rules and laws. But out here on this island we are letting the beast get loose and I can't stop it. I'm just one little boy that the beast is going to play with.
I want to tell everybody that the beast is not real. I saw the dead man with his parachute tangled up in the rocks. I saw the wind fill the parachute and pull the rag doll body up. I heard the moaning of the wind that blew the rag doll body back down. I've got to tell the boys that they should not be afraid of the imaginary beast on the mountain. I've got to tell the boys that they should be afraid of the beast that is swelling up inside of them. I hear the screams and the chant coming from the beach. "Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!" Those words are calling the beast out. Dead people. Dead pigs. Decay. Lord of the Flies. We have got to remain steadfast in the face of all this evil.
I'm getting closer to the boys. I have to tell them. "The beast isn't real," I try to say out loud, but my voice is tremulous, a whisper not a shout. They're running towards me. Maybe they're happy to see me. But their spears are raised and their eyes are blind with fear and hatred.
I want to tell everybody that the beast is not real. I saw the dead man with his parachute tangled up in the rocks. I saw the wind fill the parachute and pull the rag doll body up. I heard the moaning of the wind that blew the rag doll body back down. I've got to tell the boys that they should not be afraid of the imaginary beast on the mountain. I've got to tell the boys that they should be afraid of the beast that is swelling up inside of them. I hear the screams and the chant coming from the beach. "Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!" Those words are calling the beast out. Dead people. Dead pigs. Decay. Lord of the Flies. We have got to remain steadfast in the face of all this evil.
I'm getting closer to the boys. I have to tell them. "The beast isn't real," I try to say out loud, but my voice is tremulous, a whisper not a shout. They're running towards me. Maybe they're happy to see me. But their spears are raised and their eyes are blind with fear and hatred.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Blog 7 (Roger's Perspective)
"Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Bash him in!" Those words keep going through my head and they make me feel strong, brave, and like I can do anything. When I hear that chant it makes me feel crazy like my blood is racing through my body at one hundred miles per hour. When we surrounded Robert I almost forgot that he was a kid. I felt like he was an animal that we found in a covert, and I wanted to kill him, stick a spear into him and see the blood gush out of his body. I wanted to get really close so that I could see his fear and hear his screams. When Jack grabbed him and pretended to slit his throat I could see in his eyes that he forgot for a moment that Robert was a kid and not a pig. Jack is great. He is uncompromising in his desire to hunt and kill pigs. That's the most important thing to him. It's infuriating that Ralph keeps spoiling our plans and getting in the way of our hunting all the time. Who cares about the fire? Who cares about shelter? We're on this great adventure with infinite possibilities for fun. Piggy and Ralph snivel about wanting to be saved. They talk sagely about protecting the littluns and they act like mini adults.
Ralph surprises me sometimes. He was the one who wanted to continue climbing this mountain to find the beast. Now it's dark and we might just make a huge blunder by blindly walking right into the beast's lair. That would be fun! Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Bash him in! I can't get those words out of my head. I hope we can kill something soon.
Ralph surprises me sometimes. He was the one who wanted to continue climbing this mountain to find the beast. Now it's dark and we might just make a huge blunder by blindly walking right into the beast's lair. That would be fun! Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Bash him in! I can't get those words out of my head. I hope we can kill something soon.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Blog Quest: Symbol Profiles
Piggy's Glasses
Piggy's glasses symbolize seeing the world clearly. Another way of saying this is that Piggy, who wears the glasses, sees reality and his character is the voice of reason. When Piggy's glasses are half broken, his ability to see clearly is diminished and what he sees through the broken glass are splintered images. These splintered visual images are a metaphor for what is happening to the boys on the island as their behavior breaks down and disintegrates into savagery. Also Jack is the character who breaks the glasses and this is symbolic because his savage behavior wrecks Piggy's ability to see clearly.
The Conch
The conch is a symbol of law and order. It also represents power because whoever holds the conch has the power to speak at the assembly. The conch also symbolizes organization. Whenever Ralph blows the conch the kids come together and are united in one group. The conch only has power if people continue to obey its call and this is what Ralph is afraid of. He's worried that he might blow the conch and Jacks gang will ignore it.
The Signal Fire
The smoke form the signal fire is like the string that attaches the boys on this island to civilization. This signal represents connection to life before this crash. It also represents hope. If the signal fire goes out all hope of rescue will die. That is why Ralph gets so angry with the other boys when they let the fire go out. They don't seem to share Ralph's intense desire to get back to their old lives.
The Beast
The beast keeps changing form. First it is something that comes from the sea. Then it is something that comes from the air. The beast is a symbol for whatever fear the boys have. Some boys are afraid of the dark. Some boys are afraid of each other. Some boys are afraid of Jack. The beast is a product of each boy's imagination. It's not real because it is just a feeling of fear and being afraid.
Piggy's glasses symbolize seeing the world clearly. Another way of saying this is that Piggy, who wears the glasses, sees reality and his character is the voice of reason. When Piggy's glasses are half broken, his ability to see clearly is diminished and what he sees through the broken glass are splintered images. These splintered visual images are a metaphor for what is happening to the boys on the island as their behavior breaks down and disintegrates into savagery. Also Jack is the character who breaks the glasses and this is symbolic because his savage behavior wrecks Piggy's ability to see clearly.
The Conch
The conch is a symbol of law and order. It also represents power because whoever holds the conch has the power to speak at the assembly. The conch also symbolizes organization. Whenever Ralph blows the conch the kids come together and are united in one group. The conch only has power if people continue to obey its call and this is what Ralph is afraid of. He's worried that he might blow the conch and Jacks gang will ignore it.
The Signal Fire
The smoke form the signal fire is like the string that attaches the boys on this island to civilization. This signal represents connection to life before this crash. It also represents hope. If the signal fire goes out all hope of rescue will die. That is why Ralph gets so angry with the other boys when they let the fire go out. They don't seem to share Ralph's intense desire to get back to their old lives.
The Beast
The beast keeps changing form. First it is something that comes from the sea. Then it is something that comes from the air. The beast is a symbol for whatever fear the boys have. Some boys are afraid of the dark. Some boys are afraid of each other. Some boys are afraid of Jack. The beast is a product of each boy's imagination. It's not real because it is just a feeling of fear and being afraid.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Blog Quest: Lord of Psychology
If we think of Lord of the Flies as an allegory of Freud's theory of the id, ego, and super ego we see that Jack represents the id, Ralph represents the ego, and Simon represents the super ego.
The id is the aggressive, irresponsible, instinctual drives in a person. Jack's obsession with killing a pig and his exhilaration over the blood and slitting the pig's throat are examples of aggression and instinct. He is like an animal who is hungry so he needs to hunt food and get immediate satisfaction. He has no patience for Ralph's plans because they take too long and he doesn't see the results quickly. Jack has no moral code. He values physical strength and picks on the weakest boy in the group which is Piggy. When Jack kills the pig, he slaps Piggy and refuses to give him a portion of meat. This is like animals in the wild who let the runt of the litter starve because the law of the jungle says that only the strongest survive.
The ego is the part of the brain that acts like a referee, a judge who creates balance and is committed to being reasonable and cautious. Ralph represents the ego because he wants to plan and control what happens on the island so that their chances of survival and being rescued are the best. He is most interested in the groups safety. He builds the huts on the beach to protect the boys from bad weather. He wants the signal fire to be lit all the time just in case a ship is passing by. He creates rules about where the littluns go to the bathroom and he wants to make sure that they have fresh drinking water all the time. He is democratic and allows each boy to have a turn to speak at the meetings.
The super ego is the part of the brain that is our conscience. It creates our morality and prevents us from doing things that will harm society and other people. Simon represents the super ego because he is a quiet presence who is naturally good and moral. When Piggy is not given food by Jack, Simon shares his meat with Piggy. When Ralph needs help building the huts so that he can create a sense of order on this island Simon helps Ralph. When the boys are talking about what the beast is, Simon says that "the beast is us." He knows that every person has a darkness inside that is controlled by society. But what happens when society's rules and laws no longer exist? The darkness begins to come out of each of us.
The id is the aggressive, irresponsible, instinctual drives in a person. Jack's obsession with killing a pig and his exhilaration over the blood and slitting the pig's throat are examples of aggression and instinct. He is like an animal who is hungry so he needs to hunt food and get immediate satisfaction. He has no patience for Ralph's plans because they take too long and he doesn't see the results quickly. Jack has no moral code. He values physical strength and picks on the weakest boy in the group which is Piggy. When Jack kills the pig, he slaps Piggy and refuses to give him a portion of meat. This is like animals in the wild who let the runt of the litter starve because the law of the jungle says that only the strongest survive.
The ego is the part of the brain that acts like a referee, a judge who creates balance and is committed to being reasonable and cautious. Ralph represents the ego because he wants to plan and control what happens on the island so that their chances of survival and being rescued are the best. He is most interested in the groups safety. He builds the huts on the beach to protect the boys from bad weather. He wants the signal fire to be lit all the time just in case a ship is passing by. He creates rules about where the littluns go to the bathroom and he wants to make sure that they have fresh drinking water all the time. He is democratic and allows each boy to have a turn to speak at the meetings.
The super ego is the part of the brain that is our conscience. It creates our morality and prevents us from doing things that will harm society and other people. Simon represents the super ego because he is a quiet presence who is naturally good and moral. When Piggy is not given food by Jack, Simon shares his meat with Piggy. When Ralph needs help building the huts so that he can create a sense of order on this island Simon helps Ralph. When the boys are talking about what the beast is, Simon says that "the beast is us." He knows that every person has a darkness inside that is controlled by society. But what happens when society's rules and laws no longer exist? The darkness begins to come out of each of us.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Blog Quest (Interview with Piggy)
Interview with Piggy
KIRA: Hello Piggy. Today I'm going to ask you a few questions about your adventure on the island. Were you angry when Ralph betrayed you and told everybody that you were called Piggy by all the boys at school?
PIGGY: Well I wasn't really mad but my feelings were hurt because Ralph seemed like a trustworthy person, a smart boy who had a conscience. He really surprised me when he told everybody my secret and I was disappointed in him. I'm used to being made fun of so I wasn't surprised when all the boys on the island started making fun of me. Even though we were in a new place, boys are the same wherever you go. People don't change very much even when they crash onto a deserted island.
KIRA: You seem to be very insightful about what makes people behave the way they do. Where did you learn all about this?
PIGGY: I guess being an outsider gives me more time to observe people since I'm never included. Also I have a lot of time to sit and think about things and I can tell a lot about a person by the way that they treat me. For instance, I knew that Jack was trouble from the first moment I saw him strutting up the beach and flaunting his cape like a super hero costume. He prided himself for his physical strength and he was disdainful of anybody who did not have that ability. So of course he was going to make fun of me and hate me because I'm fat, I have asthma and I wear glasses. Jack lived in his body and not his mind.
KIRA: What about Ralph? How did you feel about him?
PIGGY: I knew that it was important to stay close to him and to convince him to remain the chief because he protected me against Jack. Ralph sometimes liked me and sometimes didn't. He liked that I was smart and reassured him that his fears were imaginary. He didn't like me when he wanted to be liked and accepted by Jack.
KIRA: From the very beginning you were very protective and sweet with the littluns. Do you have younger brothers and sisters at home?
PIGGY: No I'm an only child but I really understood how the littluns felt on that island because I have the same feelings a lot of the time. For instance they felt helpless because the big boys were so much stronger and physically able to do more than they could do. I really envy Jack's physical strength and feel helpless a lot of the time because I never know when my asthma is going to stop my breathing. Also without my glasses I'm helpless because I can't see clearly. The littluns wanted the big boys to tell them what to do, to create rules that would create order. I wanted an adult to do the same thing for us on this island because I was frightened about the chaos that would occur without law and order.
KIRA: Thank you Piggy for being so honest. You have had a terrible and frightening experience and I'm glad that you are back and safe.
KIRA: Hello Piggy. Today I'm going to ask you a few questions about your adventure on the island. Were you angry when Ralph betrayed you and told everybody that you were called Piggy by all the boys at school?
PIGGY: Well I wasn't really mad but my feelings were hurt because Ralph seemed like a trustworthy person, a smart boy who had a conscience. He really surprised me when he told everybody my secret and I was disappointed in him. I'm used to being made fun of so I wasn't surprised when all the boys on the island started making fun of me. Even though we were in a new place, boys are the same wherever you go. People don't change very much even when they crash onto a deserted island.
KIRA: You seem to be very insightful about what makes people behave the way they do. Where did you learn all about this?
PIGGY: I guess being an outsider gives me more time to observe people since I'm never included. Also I have a lot of time to sit and think about things and I can tell a lot about a person by the way that they treat me. For instance, I knew that Jack was trouble from the first moment I saw him strutting up the beach and flaunting his cape like a super hero costume. He prided himself for his physical strength and he was disdainful of anybody who did not have that ability. So of course he was going to make fun of me and hate me because I'm fat, I have asthma and I wear glasses. Jack lived in his body and not his mind.
KIRA: What about Ralph? How did you feel about him?
PIGGY: I knew that it was important to stay close to him and to convince him to remain the chief because he protected me against Jack. Ralph sometimes liked me and sometimes didn't. He liked that I was smart and reassured him that his fears were imaginary. He didn't like me when he wanted to be liked and accepted by Jack.
KIRA: From the very beginning you were very protective and sweet with the littluns. Do you have younger brothers and sisters at home?
PIGGY: No I'm an only child but I really understood how the littluns felt on that island because I have the same feelings a lot of the time. For instance they felt helpless because the big boys were so much stronger and physically able to do more than they could do. I really envy Jack's physical strength and feel helpless a lot of the time because I never know when my asthma is going to stop my breathing. Also without my glasses I'm helpless because I can't see clearly. The littluns wanted the big boys to tell them what to do, to create rules that would create order. I wanted an adult to do the same thing for us on this island because I was frightened about the chaos that would occur without law and order.
KIRA: Thank you Piggy for being so honest. You have had a terrible and frightening experience and I'm glad that you are back and safe.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Blog 5: Zip Lining in Costa Rica
The van picked us up at the hotel and drove us deep into the heart of the rainforest. As we drove through the pot holed dirt roads, the laughter and conversations of all the passengers became impossible as our bodies crashed together. The multi-colored buildings and irresistible smells of cooking food from the town quickly disappeared and were replaced by the dark, muted greens and browns of the jungle. When we left the hotel the sky was ominous and rain clouds blocked the sun. An eerie silence filled the jungle, broken only by the strident shriek of a monkey hiding in the treetops.
By the time we arrived at the zip line base camp the sky had opened up and huge pellets of rain struck our bodies without mercy. It was noon but the darkness created by the dense treetops made it seem like twilight. The distant rumble of thunder smothered the sounds of my feet as I climbed the first forty foot ladder to the first zip line. Wearing oversized rain gear, helmets, and rawhide gloves, we all looked like shapeless yellow ghosts about to fly above the rainforest canopy.
My vision was blurred by the downpour and I tried not to look down to where the ground lay so far below me. As I was launched off the platform onto the zip line the only sound that I could hear was the shrill scream of my harness skimming along the line. Then, a squawking parrot rose up into the sky, disturbed and angry. I knew that the eyes of other hidden creatures watched me as I sailed through their habitat. I heard another rumble of thunder, closer this time and then realized that it was the pounding of my own heart.
By the time we arrived at the zip line base camp the sky had opened up and huge pellets of rain struck our bodies without mercy. It was noon but the darkness created by the dense treetops made it seem like twilight. The distant rumble of thunder smothered the sounds of my feet as I climbed the first forty foot ladder to the first zip line. Wearing oversized rain gear, helmets, and rawhide gloves, we all looked like shapeless yellow ghosts about to fly above the rainforest canopy.
My vision was blurred by the downpour and I tried not to look down to where the ground lay so far below me. As I was launched off the platform onto the zip line the only sound that I could hear was the shrill scream of my harness skimming along the line. Then, a squawking parrot rose up into the sky, disturbed and angry. I knew that the eyes of other hidden creatures watched me as I sailed through their habitat. I heard another rumble of thunder, closer this time and then realized that it was the pounding of my own heart.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Blog 4 (From Ralph's Perspective)
"Things are getting out of control and the implications are frightening," I said to Piggy.
"I know. The little ones are scared," replied Piggy. "They whimper and have nightmares every night. They miss the songs that their moms croon to them at bedtime that give them comfort and allow them to fall asleep and have good dreams."
"I'm really getting worried about Jack," I said. "There is something malevolent about his fascination with blood and killing and his gang of boys are exhilarated by cutting the pig's throat. It's like they think this is a game and it seems like they have forgotten all about going home."
"Yeah, this idea seems preposterous but it's like they want to stay here forever," said Piggy incredulously.
I thought about this some more but didn't share any more thoughts because I didn't want to scare Piggy. Being saved has become an irrelevance compared to the shrill death cry and horrible gyrations of a dying pig. They don't seem to care that they let the fire go out. They don't seem to care that they are breaking all of the rules that we all agreed on. They seem to admire Jack so they do everything he tells them to do. They're not afraid of me so they just ignore my rules.
Our group is breaking apart, splitting in half like a log that is struck by lightening. I'm afraid that the power of the conch, like a mirage is disappearing from view and pretty soon all of my power will be gone. I admire Jack. He is brave and likes a good adventure. But he is also a bully and has no respect for civilized rules. He is wild and if we are not saved soon, he will only get worse and more savage. I gazed out at the opalescence of the ocean, hoping and praying that another ship would magically appear on the horizon but all I saw was the endless water. There's nothing I can do to make this situation better. "Please find us", I thought desperately.
"I know. The little ones are scared," replied Piggy. "They whimper and have nightmares every night. They miss the songs that their moms croon to them at bedtime that give them comfort and allow them to fall asleep and have good dreams."
"I'm really getting worried about Jack," I said. "There is something malevolent about his fascination with blood and killing and his gang of boys are exhilarated by cutting the pig's throat. It's like they think this is a game and it seems like they have forgotten all about going home."
"Yeah, this idea seems preposterous but it's like they want to stay here forever," said Piggy incredulously.
I thought about this some more but didn't share any more thoughts because I didn't want to scare Piggy. Being saved has become an irrelevance compared to the shrill death cry and horrible gyrations of a dying pig. They don't seem to care that they let the fire go out. They don't seem to care that they are breaking all of the rules that we all agreed on. They seem to admire Jack so they do everything he tells them to do. They're not afraid of me so they just ignore my rules.
Our group is breaking apart, splitting in half like a log that is struck by lightening. I'm afraid that the power of the conch, like a mirage is disappearing from view and pretty soon all of my power will be gone. I admire Jack. He is brave and likes a good adventure. But he is also a bully and has no respect for civilized rules. He is wild and if we are not saved soon, he will only get worse and more savage. I gazed out at the opalescence of the ocean, hoping and praying that another ship would magically appear on the horizon but all I saw was the endless water. There's nothing I can do to make this situation better. "Please find us", I thought desperately.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Blog 3 ( from Jacks perspective)
"This is so much fun. I almost killed a pig but he got away. I saw pig tracks on the ground and when I followed them I heard snorting in the underbrush. The pig was digging in the dirt with his snout and I crept up on it holding my breath. His ears twitched because I stepped on a branch and gave myself away. His eyes darted in my direction and he took off running. Next time I'll have to get closer and sneak up on it. Then I can spear him through the heart."
This is what I was thinking when I saw Ralph and Simon wasting their time building huts on the beach. Ralph and Simon are so lame because the huts are crooked and falling down. The grass that they put on the roof won't keep out the rain. The logs are tied together with string that they've made from reeds and tendrils and one strong wind will blow the hut apart. Ralph flaunts his ideas like they're actually good. He actually listens to what that fat, four-eyed loser has to say and together they only come up with wrong ideas. Piggy gives me the creeps. He doesn't have the courage to look me in the eye. He only gives me furtive glances out of the sides of his eyes.
This heat is so oppressive but still they're wasting their sweat trying to build these huts. We should all be hunting. We need food. We need a lookout. We need to have weapons with barbs so that more of us can hunt. Nobody listens to Ralph anyway. We have stupid meetings where the little ones look confused, scared, and bewildered and then nobody does what they're supposed to do. The littluns love sitting on the ground listening to Ralph because it reminds them of the assemblies at school. But anyone can see we're not at school anymore. The boys are half naked, their skin sunburned to a crisp, their school uniforms all ripped up, their faces dirty and sweaty. Kids raise their hand and Ralph hands them the conch as if the conch has real power. What a joke. We need a leader who the kids look up to and who scares the kids and punishes them when they don't listen. That's the only way we'll get anything done. Ralph is way too democratic. We need a dictator. We need me.
I love this island that is festooned with wild flowers and bright green tendrils clinging to tree trunks. I love the mysterious and inscrutable jungle that hides all the animals and birds in the underbrush. I love the glimmer of the lagoon as the sunlight dances off its surface. I love this adventure.
This is what I was thinking when I saw Ralph and Simon wasting their time building huts on the beach. Ralph and Simon are so lame because the huts are crooked and falling down. The grass that they put on the roof won't keep out the rain. The logs are tied together with string that they've made from reeds and tendrils and one strong wind will blow the hut apart. Ralph flaunts his ideas like they're actually good. He actually listens to what that fat, four-eyed loser has to say and together they only come up with wrong ideas. Piggy gives me the creeps. He doesn't have the courage to look me in the eye. He only gives me furtive glances out of the sides of his eyes.
This heat is so oppressive but still they're wasting their sweat trying to build these huts. We should all be hunting. We need food. We need a lookout. We need to have weapons with barbs so that more of us can hunt. Nobody listens to Ralph anyway. We have stupid meetings where the little ones look confused, scared, and bewildered and then nobody does what they're supposed to do. The littluns love sitting on the ground listening to Ralph because it reminds them of the assemblies at school. But anyone can see we're not at school anymore. The boys are half naked, their skin sunburned to a crisp, their school uniforms all ripped up, their faces dirty and sweaty. Kids raise their hand and Ralph hands them the conch as if the conch has real power. What a joke. We need a leader who the kids look up to and who scares the kids and punishes them when they don't listen. That's the only way we'll get anything done. Ralph is way too democratic. We need a dictator. We need me.
I love this island that is festooned with wild flowers and bright green tendrils clinging to tree trunks. I love the mysterious and inscrutable jungle that hides all the animals and birds in the underbrush. I love the glimmer of the lagoon as the sunlight dances off its surface. I love this adventure.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Blog 2 (from Piggy's perspective)
I try to help but nobody will listen to me. I think I'm the smartest boy here but things are really warped. When the little ones started talking about the beastie I tried to tell Jack and Ralph what they were afraid of but they just got mad at me. Jack and Ralph looked at me scornfully. I really admire Ralph because he has good ideas and he seems like a fair leader. I don't like Jack and I know that Jack doesn't like me. Jack is like a little kid pretending to be tough and brave but he's also really bossy and officious. Every time I hold the conch and want to say something nobody listens and people tell me to keep quiet but when Jack or Ralph holds the conch everybody listens to them.
There was such a tumult when Ralph suggested making a fire. Everybody thought that was a great idea but I thought that was pretty stupid. Who would keep it going? Who would see it? What is the point? But everybody wanted to do it so they grabbed my glasses to start the fire by reflecting the sun off the glass. That was pretty smart but I could have told them how stupid they were because all of a sudden the fire spread and was burning everything. Everybody hates me and thinks that I'm pathetic but I'm really smarter than everybody here and I had to laugh when I saw the whole mountain starting to burn. It was irresistible and I felt like saying, " I told you so." Ralph and Jack need my help but they won't listen. We should have built huts on the beach to protect us but instead everyone thought that building a fire was such a good idea and look what happens. Then one of the little ones was missing and I was the only one who noticed. I'm the responsible one. I'm the one who can make the best decisions and take care of the little ones. But because I'm fat, wear glasses, and am not nimble like the other skinny boys, they all think I'm a loser. I hope I can convince Ralph to be my friend and to be on my side because I'm afraid of Jack.
There was such a tumult when Ralph suggested making a fire. Everybody thought that was a great idea but I thought that was pretty stupid. Who would keep it going? Who would see it? What is the point? But everybody wanted to do it so they grabbed my glasses to start the fire by reflecting the sun off the glass. That was pretty smart but I could have told them how stupid they were because all of a sudden the fire spread and was burning everything. Everybody hates me and thinks that I'm pathetic but I'm really smarter than everybody here and I had to laugh when I saw the whole mountain starting to burn. It was irresistible and I felt like saying, " I told you so." Ralph and Jack need my help but they won't listen. We should have built huts on the beach to protect us but instead everyone thought that building a fire was such a good idea and look what happens. Then one of the little ones was missing and I was the only one who noticed. I'm the responsible one. I'm the one who can make the best decisions and take care of the little ones. But because I'm fat, wear glasses, and am not nimble like the other skinny boys, they all think I'm a loser. I hope I can convince Ralph to be my friend and to be on my side because I'm afraid of Jack.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Blog 1
My mom was crying when she said good bye at the airport and she said to me, "At least you will be safe from the war. I will be there in a few days. I love you."
I had a dream about her last night when I was lying on the sand trying to ignore the strident sounds of animals hiding in the jungle. This is crazy because now the plane crashed and we're totally lost and I don't even know if any of the other kids are alive. I haven't seen anybody and I'm really scared. Last night I was so thirsty that I tried drinking the ocean water but it made my stomach hurt. My thoughts are a jumble and I don't know what to do.
This morning when the sun came up it got really hot. I started to explore the island and came to a beautiful turquoise lagoon. The water looked so smooth and silky that I couldn't resist and I jumped into the water. The water enveloped me in it's coolness and since my stomach was grumbling from hunger I tried to catch some of the small fish that were glistening just under the surface. They were too fast for me and by the time I finished, I was so hungry I could devour a whole cow. But all I could find were some red berries that I hoped were not poisonous. I'm beginning to think that this isn't so bad. There are no grown ups to tell me what to do and this could turn out to be a great adventure that I can tell all my friends about when I go back home.
All of a sudden I hear the most amazing sound. It sounds like the bellowing of an angry bull. The birds in the trees are frightened and leave their nests squawking. I listen and in the distance I can hear someone shouting. I start running towards the voice and when I get close enough I see about ten other boys clambering up the sandy ridge of the beach. WOW! There are other kids here from the plane. My body starts to quiver with excitement. We all start jumping around, doing somersaults in the sand, shouting, laughing, falling into a sweaty heap together. Two of the boys are just watching us. One of them is fat, wearing glasses and his school uniform that really looks weird because it's so hot and most of us have taken off our shirts. The other boy is serious but he is smiling and holding a large shell in his hand. He raises the shell to his mouth and blows again and when he does this several more boys come running towards our group out of the bushes.
We spend the next few hours comparing stories about what we did when the plane first crashed.
"I thought we were all going to die and it was really scary," said one of the little boys."
"When the plane crashed, I climbed out the window and my head was bleeding," I said. Then we decided to elect a leader for our group who would be like a president and a boss. I voted for Ralph because he seems fair and doesn't just tell us what to do. Jack seems to be pretty confident and courageous but he seems pretty selfish and just wants to have things his way. I like them both and now that we're all together I think that this will turn out to be a lot of fun.
I had a dream about her last night when I was lying on the sand trying to ignore the strident sounds of animals hiding in the jungle. This is crazy because now the plane crashed and we're totally lost and I don't even know if any of the other kids are alive. I haven't seen anybody and I'm really scared. Last night I was so thirsty that I tried drinking the ocean water but it made my stomach hurt. My thoughts are a jumble and I don't know what to do.
This morning when the sun came up it got really hot. I started to explore the island and came to a beautiful turquoise lagoon. The water looked so smooth and silky that I couldn't resist and I jumped into the water. The water enveloped me in it's coolness and since my stomach was grumbling from hunger I tried to catch some of the small fish that were glistening just under the surface. They were too fast for me and by the time I finished, I was so hungry I could devour a whole cow. But all I could find were some red berries that I hoped were not poisonous. I'm beginning to think that this isn't so bad. There are no grown ups to tell me what to do and this could turn out to be a great adventure that I can tell all my friends about when I go back home.
All of a sudden I hear the most amazing sound. It sounds like the bellowing of an angry bull. The birds in the trees are frightened and leave their nests squawking. I listen and in the distance I can hear someone shouting. I start running towards the voice and when I get close enough I see about ten other boys clambering up the sandy ridge of the beach. WOW! There are other kids here from the plane. My body starts to quiver with excitement. We all start jumping around, doing somersaults in the sand, shouting, laughing, falling into a sweaty heap together. Two of the boys are just watching us. One of them is fat, wearing glasses and his school uniform that really looks weird because it's so hot and most of us have taken off our shirts. The other boy is serious but he is smiling and holding a large shell in his hand. He raises the shell to his mouth and blows again and when he does this several more boys come running towards our group out of the bushes.
We spend the next few hours comparing stories about what we did when the plane first crashed.
"I thought we were all going to die and it was really scary," said one of the little boys."
"When the plane crashed, I climbed out the window and my head was bleeding," I said. Then we decided to elect a leader for our group who would be like a president and a boss. I voted for Ralph because he seems fair and doesn't just tell us what to do. Jack seems to be pretty confident and courageous but he seems pretty selfish and just wants to have things his way. I like them both and now that we're all together I think that this will turn out to be a lot of fun.
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