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Summary Of The Novel 'Painted Faces And Long Hair' By William Golding

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The Lord of the Flies, a novel written by the eloquent William Golding, is known for its raw depiction of man when thrown into an unstable environment. Golding portrays an assembly of young British boys being stranded on an uninhabited island, and their downward spiral into insanity and unrest. In Chapter four, “Painted Faces and Long Hair”, Maurice and Roger kick down the sand castles the “littuns” have built. Most of the littluns have become accustomed to the torments of the older boys, but this act delineates the change in the group as they drift farther and farther from the grasps of civilized society. Maurice feels a slight tinge of remorse, but without repercussions from an adult, while Roger enjoys the feeling of power over the children, thus further dividing the group. Jack, who is obsessed with hunting and killing a pig, enlists Roger to assist him with his camouflage. Jack’s analogy of hunting the pig to hunting people, like in a war, foreshadows the path of the boys remaining on the island. When Jack’s camouflage is complete, he beckons Sam and Eric to join him, but the twins hesitate as they felt a sense of loyalty towards Ralph, who was …show more content…

Desperate to be rescued, Ralph sprints up the mountain when he realizes there is no smoke coming from the signal fire. Jack and his hunters appear on the mountain, while Ralph is still fuming over the unkindled fire, and the loss of hope for rescue. This point marks the opening of a chasm between the boys who yearn to return to their previous civilized lives, and the boys who are becoming ever more intoxicated with the hunt and lawlessness. The boys in the second group are so captivated by their freedom, that they are willing to surrender their former lives. Ralph’s lack of leadership skills is evident when he can no longer persuade the group to remain steadfast in their belief of order and

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