Chapter 3: Huts on the Beach
This chapter further develops the central conflict between Ralph and Jack, representing the struggle between civilization and savagery in "Herr der Fliegen". The boys' different priorities become clear, with Ralph focusing on building shelters and maintaining the signal fire, while Jack becomes increasingly obsessed with hunting.
Highlight: The diverging goals of Ralph and Jack symbolize the conflict between the needs of civilization and the primal instincts of human nature.
Ralph and Simon work on building huts, but most of the other boys prefer to play and swim. This lack of cooperation foreshadows the breakdown of their nascent society:
Example: The boys' reluctance to work on the huts represents the difficulty of maintaining civilization in the face of more immediate pleasures.
Jack's growing obsession with hunting pigs is a key development in this chapter:
Quote: "Jack was bent double. He was down like a sprinter, his nose only a few inches from the humid earth. The tree trunks and the creepers that festooned them lost themselves in a green dusk thirty feet above him, and all about was the undergrowth."
This vivid description of Jack hunting shows his increasing alignment with the wild, primal aspects of human nature. His disregard for the younger boys' fears also highlights his movement away from civilized behavior.
Simon, meanwhile, emerges as a unique character, separate from both Ralph and Jack's groups. His solitary exploration of the island hints at his deeper connection to nature and his role as a spiritual or philosophical figure in the story.
Vocabulary: Primal - relating to an early stage in evolutionary development; primordial.
The chapter ends with a clear division forming among the boys, setting the stage for the conflicts to come in "Herr der Fliegen".
