The passage I chose to analyze and respond to is the first one that Dr. D listed. It is the one where Ralph says' "Because the rules are the only thing we've got!" I think the significance of this passage to the book is it shows that Jack and Ralph have chosen different directions for surviving the island. Ralph clearly says that we must have rules. Ralph is explaining that in order to stay civilized, in order to stay good, we must have rules and we must follow them. Jack is clearly saying to heck with the rules. Jack says, "Bollocks to the rules! We're strong--we hunt!...We'll close in and beat and beat and beat--!" Jack is becoming a savage, he is turning to surviving by dominating.
This passage in Chapter 8 is the first time the reader hears Jack and Ralph speak so differently and argue over how things should be run. There are things both characters do that lead up to this point but in this passage they say their feelings out loud. This passage shows us Jack and Ralph have chosen different ways to try and survive. Jack goes on after this to show just how savage he can be. The line Ralph says about rules being all they have shows that Ralph understands they need guidelines to survive being caring good people. The line Jack says about beat and beat and beat shows us that he just wants to dominate. Those are the reasons I think the passage is so important.
I think that passage is important too! It definitely shows that the rules are the only thing that Jack and Ralph share in common, and the rules are gone.
ReplyDelete