Chapter 6: Beast from Air

[S2Lit2008HCI]

1) What is Golding saying about the outside world when he sends this "sign" down to the island?

2) Discuss why Ralph considers the area called the castle to be a "rotten place".

3) Comment on how the boys' concept of the Beast as one that now comes from Air increases their fear of the unknown?

[2balcanderseah01]

1) What is Golding saying about the outside world when he sends this "sign" down to the island?

William Golding is saying that the outside world is just like the situation on the island whereby people kill one another like savages and struggle for power just like Jack in the story. The war going on in the adult world symbolizes the progression of the overall story as the civilization in most of them hits the red zone.

I think that Golding is implying that war represents the flare-up of civilization, where the hunger for power overwhelms the need for law and order, making them no difference from barbarians. This also proves that no matter how trained or civilized you are, you will still be struck by savagery eventually unless your moral values were not brought up by external factors. This can be further elaborated by showing how the adult world also fights mercilessly for power, although they were the ones teaching their children on civilization. In the end, they still showed their savage instincts and thus suggest that their moral values on civilization were also brought up through external factors.

That is all I have to say for now. I will bw answering the other question later. Thank You

[2balcanderseah01]

Hi all, I will be answering question 3 now.

3) Comment on how the boys' concept of the Beast as one that now comes from Air increases their fear of the unknown?

The boys¡¯ concept of the beast as one that comes from the air increases their fears as they now imagine it to be more powerful than they though. They see it as a monster that is snake-like, lives in the water and can even fly. Little did they know that the beast they thought could fly had actually been a dead parachutist. This thus increases Jack¡¯s power over the whole tribe and at the later part of the story, challenges Ralph to see if was afraid of the beast. Due to peer pressure, he is forced to say groundlessly that he was not for the sake of containing the little influence he has over the tribe. Thus, the boys¡¯ concepts of the beast as one that can fly increases their fear by a lot and this incident has also put Jack into even greater power than before as he takes the courage to challenge Ralph¡¯s leadership over his tribe for the first time.

That is all I have to say for now. Thank You

[2bwenkang04]

Hi everyone, I will be answering the first question for now.
1. I agree with Alcander for question 1 but I would like to add some of my own points.
William Golding is saying that the outside world is as vicious as the society on the island where there is a difference, between law and order, and power. To me, the war going on in the outside world clearly reflects the savagery of man. This is evident from the passage "Though not even a faint popping came down from the battle fought at ten miles' height". This is significant as it shows us that there is a battle raging on in the sky, in which is reflected in the conflict on the island. "There was sudden bright explosion and a corkscrew trail across the sky" is significant as it shows that the plane that carried the parachutist died and the parachutist had to jump out of the plane (with a parachute) after which he died eventually. This is significant as it highlights the fact that war is vicious and it also highlights the fact about survival- Survival of the fittest. This is also evident on the island, in which the weaker ones get pushed aside while the stronger boys get the leadership roles. *Such as Piggy and Jack*. The fact about Survival is also evident in today's society in which is a competitive one.
I fully agree with Alcander's point about the representation of the flare up of society.
Thank you, I will be answering the other questions later.
Regards,
Wen Kang.

[2b27pangshiang]

3) The 'beast from air' adds to the great confusion on the island and thus the boys were ffeling lost and fearful of everything new, or unknown.

On the island, the boys are unsettled as they have been forcefully put into a situation where they have not prepared for. Their most basic instinct makes them suspect everything they see. Also, when put into a new situation, they fear everything and imagine things. This "beast" gives them great fear as it has been haunting the small group in their dreams, especially the littleuns. This shows that the boys were initially afraid of the unknown without the inclusion of the "beast from air". However, this beast adds to the confusion by granting the "beast" the ability to fly, and the boys were taken aback by this new knowedge. Hence this new addition stimulates to the boys' fear of the unknown by making them suspicious and fearful of the "beast from air", which is actually a harmless parachute and a dead airman, as it is alien and unknown to them.

[2cjamesquah28]

Hey all,

Will be answer question 1 for now.

Question 1

What is Golding saying about the outside world when he sends this "sign" down to the island?

Firstly, what is this sign? This sign, as depicted on page 118 of Chapter 6,

"But a sign came down from the world of grown-ups, though at the time there was no child awake to read it. There was a sudden bright explosion and a corkscrew trail across the sky; then darkness again and stars."

Hence, William Golding is trying to say that the outside world is actually engaging in warfare and are turning savage themselves. We know that this sign came at the night-time since "though at that time where was no child awake to read it". Hence, we know that the outside world is still fighting and killing even at night.

The "sudden bright explosion" could infer to a firearm or bomb that could have been ignited in the sky. With explosions in the air, this also tells us that the outside world is also engaging in air warfare such as dogfighting or acting as "bombers".

-"Corkscrew trail across the sky"- This can be comprehended easily as a plane that has been shot down and is actually, descending rapidly and about to crash. This therefore explains to us why it is a "corkscrew trail across the sky". If you have seen war films. When a plane is shot down, it usually spirals down from the sky and crashes.
___________________________________________________

"There was a speck above the island, a figure dropping swiftly
beneath a parachute, a figure that hung with dangling limbs. The changing winds of various altitudes took the figure where they would."

In the second World War, there was a "newborn" division called the airbourne infantry division in the USA army. This had just been "created" just beforen World War 2 and deploys a new tactic to warfare. In this "airbourne infantry division", the soldiers were meant to be deployed from parachutes from planes downwards behind enemy lines.

However, this infantry disvision tend to have many implications. One such famous complication include the process of actually being deployed from the plane. If you had watched "Band Of Brothers", you can learn from there. The deployment of soldiers from planes were usually inaccurate and often hazardous. Due to the various windspeeds in the atmostphere, many soldiers tend to miss the "dropping zone". Hence, this explains to us in the book that this soldiers was actually one of those unfortunate people that have actually, drifted miles from his "deployment zone" and landed up in this island.

As an additional inference from my point of view:

In this chapter, the chapter name is "Beast from Air". This might also imply the "savagery from/behind airbourne warfare".

In conclusion, i would like to state that William Golding is trying to depict the "outside world" undergoing an intense World War II and the "outside world" is no longer what it used to be, but turned into a whole earth of savage and bloodthirsty actions and mindsets.

Regards,
James Quah 2C28

[2bwenkang04]

Hi everyone, I will be doing question 2.
2. Ralph most probably considered the area called the castle to be a 'rotten place' due to the surroundings. This is evident in the source in which "the waters sank among the rocks, revealing pink tables of granite, strange growths of coral, polyp, and weed." "There was one flat rock there, spread like a table, and the waters sucking down on the four weedy sides made them seem like cliffs." "There was no sense of the passage of waves; only this minute-long fall and rise and fall." This is significant as it shows that the castle has a gloomy atmosphere- the waves make no sound, they periodicly fall and rise, there was no passage of the waves. The waters were described as 'sucking down on the four weedy sides', adding to the gloomy atmosphere.

Ralph may have considered the area a rotten place because Jack on the other hand thought that the place was stupendous and brilliant. Perhaps due to the conflict between Jack and Ralph, when Jack agreed to something, it was natural for Ralph to rebutt him, because of the fact that both of them are in a conflict and there is that tense atmosphere. Hence, when Jack makes a move, Ralph has to counter it. Thus, it may be due to the fact that Jack thought that the place was awesome that made Ralph consider the castle to be rotten place as he associates the place with Jack.
Thank you.
Chow Wen Kang

[2bmarcuschong03]

Hey all, I will have my take on Question 1.

The air battle and dead parachutist, "the sign" remind us of the larger setting of Lord of the Flies: though the boys lead an isolated life on the island, we know that a bloody war is being waged elsewhere in the world—a war that apparently is a terrible holocaust. All Golding tells us is that atom bombs have threatened England in a war against “the reds” and that the boys were evacuated just before the impending destruction of their civilization. The war is also responsible for the boys’ crash landing on the island in the first place, because an enemy aircraft gunned down their transport plane. Although the war remains in the background of Lord of the Flies, it is nevertheless an important extension of the main themes of the novel. Just as the boys struggle with the conflict between civilization and savagery on the island, the outside world is gripped in a similar conflict. War represents the savage outbursts of civilization, when the desire for violence and power overwhelms the desire for order and peace. Even though the outside world has bestowed upon the boys a sense of morality and order, the danger of savagery remains real even within the context of that seemingly civilized society that has nurtured them.

Regards,
Marcus Chong 2B03

[2bmarcuschong03]

Hey all, I will have my take on Question 3.

As fear about the beast grips the boys, the balance between civilization and savagery on the island shifts, and Ralph’s control over the group diminishes. Civilization begin to erode among the boys, Ralph’s hold on them slips, while Jack becomes a more powerful and menacing figure in the camp. In Chapter 5, Ralph’s attempt to reason with the boys is ineffective; by Chapter 6, Jack is able to manipulate Ralph by asking him, in front of the other boys, whether he is frightened. This question forces Ralph to act irrationally simply for the sake of preserving his status among the other boys. This breakdown in the group’s desire for morality, order, and civilization is increasingly enabled—or excused—by the presence of the monster. Their thinking that it comes from the air increases their fear for the unknown as it is more powerful than they had thought of before. Initially they thought it was like a snake, moving on land, then thought it could swim in the sea, and now thought it could fly in the air. Its different varied abilities confirmed the boys that it was very powerful and unbeatable. Thus their concepts of the Beast to have came from the air increased their fear.

Regards,
Marcus Chong 2B03

[2cpekjiehui27]

Hi everyone,

I will be commenting on question 3.

3) Comment on how the boys' concept of the Beast as one that now comes from Air increases their fear of the unknown?

As in chapter 2, the little boy Percival already said that he "saw" a beast in the forest.

However, no when the beast is actually thought to be from the air, their fears intensifies even more. Further back when the beast is on the mountain, the boys avoid it by staying at the sea shore. Later in the book, the boys think that the beast now comes form the water, which tarnishes their thought of being able to stay safe at the coast. However now, as the boys think that the beast is actually from the water, what happens is that the beast is now able to access every part of the island. This means that no matter how the boys hide or where they hide, the beast is able to reach them. And this also means that the beast might not unnecessarily have to live on the island, which means that is could be just ANYTHING living on this earth.

This makes the boys be less on their feet. Their fear for the beast is so intense they are getting more and more out of hand. This is also one of the small contributing factors of "the rise of Jack" and the falling of Ralph's leadership over the boys. This also gives an even lesser sense of security under the leadership of Ralph who believes in civilisation and making a fire, rather than Jack who says that "Then I will kill the beast" and later saying "We shall FORGET the beast".

Hence, the concept of the beast coming from the air GREATLY INTENSIFIES the boy's fear of the unknown as it could be ANYTHING.

Regards,
Jie Hui

[2btaytianwen28]

Hi all,

i will be attempting the second question.

2) Discuss why Ralph considers the area called the castle to be a "rotten place".

I will be writing i support of wen kang's post.

Ralph most probably considered the area called the castle to be a 'rotten place' due to the surroundings and his realtionship with Jack.

This is evident in the source in which "the waters sank among the rocks, revealing pink tables of granite, strange growths of coral, polyp, and weed." "There was one flat rock there, spread like a table, and the waters sucking down on the four weedy sides made them seem like cliffs." "There was no sense of the passage of waves; only this minute-long fall and rise and fall."

As Wen Kang has already stated the mood and atmosphere at castle rock was gloomy and dull, with no vibrancy nor sign of life.
The waves were not in rythmn, and the entire place was void of life.

Also, at this point of time , Jack and Ralph's relatinship has begun to detoriate. While Jack considers castle rock magnificient and brilliant, this being evident from he exclaiming in delight "what a place to have a fort!", Ralph on the contrary considers the place "rotten". With such contrasting opinions and emotions, we can see that Jack and Ralph's relationship isn't turning out very well.

One more point -- Jack and Ralph have different priorities then. Jack 's main priority when he discovered castle rock was to roll rocks in the sea, and unravel some of the benefits it has against intruders, while Ralph's priority was to get to the top of the mountain, find the beast, and keep the signal fire going (correct me if im wrong).

Do post any comments

Thanks,

Tian Wen

[2bterrechua29]

Hi all,

I will be tackling question 3.

Question 3

Comment on how the boys' concept of the Beast as one that now comes from Air increases their fear of the unknown?

Golding uses the boys’ fear of a mythical beast to illustrate their assumption that evil arises from external forces rather than from themselves.

This beast that the boys regard as a fearsome one initially takes form in their imaginations as a snake-type animal that disguises itself as jungle vines.

But later, they consider the possibility of a creature that rises from the sea or the more nebulous entity of a ghost.

When they spot the dead paratrooper who has landed on the mountain, the boys feel sure that they have proof of a beast’s existence and they hence feel that this beast comes from Air. In fact, a beast does roam the island, but not in the form the boys imagine. Actually, this beast is within them.

From this chapter, Golding may have wanted to describe the dark side of human nature and make the point that each member of humankind has this dark side.

The boys conceptualize the source of all their worst impulses as a beast, some sort of actual animal or possibly supernatural creature inhabiting the island. Yet all along the boys take on the persona of the beast when they act on their animal impulses. There is actually no external beast.

Hence, the boys get more and more frightened of the beast as their imaginations have caused them to think that the beast is a scary one.

Now with the concept that the Beast comes from Air instead of water, which is mentioned in the previous chapter, this may lead the boys to feel that this beast can appear anywhere. Sometimes it can appear from the water but sometimes from air too.

Hence, with the inclusion of the concept that Beast comes from the air, the boys get more frightened since this concept MAY lead to them to think that this beast can appear from both water and air. By thinking so, they will get frightened as they have a feeling that this beast can attack them from somewhere that they do not know.

Do feel free to post any comments.

Cheers,
Terre Chua
2B29

[2balcanderseah01]

I will like to comment on Wen Kang's post.

Wen Kang, the quotes you picked out from the passage to describe how rotten the place was is rather invalid as I do not think that it potrays a gloomy atmosphere, but rather the tranquality of the night.

Also, I do not think that the reason that Ralph felt that it was a rotten place because Jack liked it. Although they were in constant conflict and bickering with each other, I do not feel that Ralph will be so childish as in to contradict everything Jack likes.

I feel that Ralph thinks it is a rotten place because at this stage of the novel, the popularity of Ralph is taking a dip down while Jack's influence over the group surges and thus with the support lost, Ralph might have taken it as something demoralising and lost all interst on the island, suddenly feeling the loneliness of it and wanting to go home.

Thank You

[2btaytianwen28]

Hi all,

i disagree with Alcander's comments on wen kang's post.

"There was no sense of the passage of waves; only this minute-long fall and rise and fall."

The waves having no rhythm shows that they were void of animation， lifeless to a certain extent. You stated in your post that the quotes wen kang picked potrayed the tranquality of the night.Perhaps you could elaborate on what do you mean by saying so.


Thanks,


Tian Wen

[2bwenkang04]

Hi Alcander, I do think that my quotes are relevant. For example, "There was one flat rock there, spread like a table, and the waters sucking down on the four weedy sides made them seem like cliffs." I don't think that sucking portrays a tranquil atmosphere, do you? I wholly agree with Tianwen. The place is devoid of emotion and character. Hence, Ralph calls this place a rotten place.
Ralph and Jack are 12 years old. They are not very mature yet.
Thank you
Regards,
Wen Kang