Lord Of The Flies Chapter 7 Summary

Okay, so picture this: a bunch of British schoolboys are stranded on a desert island, trying to survive. In Chapter 7 of Lord of the Flies, things get… interesting.

Hunting, Hope, and Hallucinations

The chapter kicks off with the boys, led by Ralph, tracking a wild boar. This isn't your average nature walk, though. It's more like a testosterone-fueled chase through the jungle.

Even Ralph, our ever-sensible leader, gets caught up in the frenzy. He actually manages to hit the boar with his spear! This is a HUGE deal because it shows a primal side of Ralph we haven't seen before.

After the boar hunt, they decide to head up the mountain to check if the dreaded beast is still lurking. Let's just say, morale isn't exactly sky-high at this point.

Mountain Madness

As they journey up the mountain, Ralph starts feeling a glimmer of hope. He thinks about home, about baths, and about clean underpants. Seriously, the little things, right?

But then, reality hits hard. Jack, ever the instigator, challenges Ralph's leadership (surprise, surprise!). He taunts him to join him hunting. Ralph has no other way out, and agrees to do it together with Jack.

Roger, the quiet sadist of the group, is with them. He's always been a bit creepy, and things are about to get even creepier. Imagine the tension.

"He’s like a ticking time bomb,"

As darkness falls, the three boys finally reach the top of the mountain. What they see in the dim light scares them witless. They think they've found the beast!

Not-So-Brave Boys

Now, keep in mind, these are just kids. They're exhausted, scared, and probably haven't had a decent meal in weeks. So, when they see something moving in the shadows...they react like any rational human being will do: with pure, unadulterated terror.

They don't exactly investigate calmly. Instead, they scramble back down the mountain as fast as their little legs can carry them. Who can blame them though?

The reality of what they saw is left ambiguous, fueling the boys' fears and sending the story spiraling even further into chaos. Whatever they encountered has solidified the presence of the beast in their minds, and will have far reaching consequence.

A Turning Point

Chapter 7 is a turning point because it shows how easily even the most rational individuals (like Ralph) can succumb to primal instincts and fear. The hunt brought out something unexpected in Ralph, a taste for the thrill of the chase.

And the encounter with the "beast" on the mountain completely shatters any remaining sense of order and hope. It's a bad time to be a pig on the island.

It's a reminder that even in the most ordinary of people, there's a wild side waiting to be unleashed. Think of it as your inner caveman itching to get out – maybe not to hunt boars, but maybe to cut in line at the grocery store (don't do that, though).

So, next time you're feeling a little too civilized, remember Ralph and the boar. Embrace your inner wild child, but maybe keep the spear at home.