Chapter 11: Summary and Analysis

Castle Rock

As Ralph tries in vain to rebuild the fire, Piggy urges him to convene a meeting. At the meeting, Piggy announces that he will visit Jack in order to get his glasses back, and Ralph and the twins agree to accompany Piggy.

On their way, the four observe a thin smoke emanating from the direction of the castle. At the castle, Ralph sounds his conch to indicate that he’d like everyone to gather and to assert his authority. However, no one pays heed to his call. When Jack arrives, Ralph calls him a thief, which prompts Jack to attack him with his spear. A brief fight ensues, but the two are soon separated. Jack then orders his crew to tie up Samneric. The twins are taken aback by Jack’s orders. Another fight ensues between Ralph and Jack, but the two are quickly separated again.

Meanwhile, Piggy locates the conch and sounds it to regain the group’s attention. As Roger throws stones at the foursome, Jack joins his crew, which is ready to attack. Roger then engages the lever to his trap, thereby releasing a giant boulder. Ralph barely manages to escape, but Piggy is hurled off the ledge. The conch is also crushed. Piggy’s fall proves fatal, and his dead body is soon washed away by the tide.

Jack then throws his spear at Ralph and manages to catch him in the ribs. Jack’s crew takes this as a cue and hurls spears at Ralph, who dodges the weapons and manages to escape into the woods. Jack is now referred to as “the chief,” and Samneric are left with no choice but to join Jack’s crew.

This chapter shows that Jack has lost all signs of civility. He and Roger are now “savage” and brutal. Roger, in particular, seems to take great pride in his role as executioner.