Chapter 2: Summary and Analysis

Fire On the Mountain

This chapter begins with Ralph blowing the conch to summon the boys. It is a hot day, and the boys have clothed themselves again to avoid sunburn. Meanwhile, the choir boys have removed their cloaks on account of the heat. As Ralph confirms that they are in fact on an island, Jack hastily adds that they must assemble a band of pig hunters at once to ensure survival. Annoyed by Jack’s interruption, Ralph announces that one can speak at the gathering only if one has possession of the conch and that no one other than Ralph can interrupt the speaker.

Soon, however, the discussion turns chaotic, and Piggy blows the conch in an attempt to reinstate order. He also reminds the group that they must remain focused since no one knows where they’re stranded.

Ralph then suggests that the group should make the most of not being under adult supervision. When Jack asks the group if they’ve found anything interesting on the island, a band of young boys coax a six-year-old to share what he claims to have seen. With much hesitation, the six-year-old boy informs the group that he encountered a “beastie,” a “snake-thing” in the woods. Ralph, however, dismisses the boy’s claim.

To reassure the group, Jack takes hold of the conch and asserts that the “beastie” is just a figment of the boy’s imagination. He adds that even if the “beastie” did exist, his crew of hunters would be able to kill it. Ralph is afraid that Jack’s statement may have stirred the group; he fears that the group may regard Jack as the better leader as a result. To regain control, Ralph grabs the conch and states that under his supervision the group can remain cautious and have fun at the same time; he also adds that his leadership is essential if they are to be rescued from the island. He tells the group that his father works with the Royal Navy and that the Queen holds maps of every land. He is confident that a ship will be sent to look for them and urges the group to build a fire to signal their presence to the ship.

Noticing the boys’ excitement at this suggestion, Jack leads them to the mountain in order to build the fire. In their excitement, the boys forget to take the conch with them. They leave without waiting for Ralph and Piggy. Ralph follows the group after much hesitation, and Piggy picks up the conch and follows suit resentfully.

The boys are unable to build a fire, but are thrilled by Piggy’s arrival: they decide at once to use his glasses to build the fire. Though Piggy doesn’t want the boys to use his glasses, Ralph takes the glasses nonetheless and hands them over to the boys.

The boys are only able to build a feeble fire, and Piggy tells them that they will have to build a much bigger fire for a signal. Displeased by the suggestion, Jack asks Piggy to keep quiet, but Piggy tells him that he has the conch and is therefore entitled to speak. Jack then announces that the conch rule does not apply on the mountain. Sensing that the group might be on the brink of chaos, Ralph intervenes and states that the conch rule applies on the mountain as well. Though he’d just stated the opposite, Jack grabs the conch and enthusiastically echoes Ralph’s views. Jack then asks the hunters to build a fire and keep it going, a suggestion that is met with applause.

Piggy complains that no one pays heed to his words, but is startled to notice that the fire signal has caused a forest fire. As he comes to the realization that the fire may have killed some of the boys, he hears trees exploding in the fire like bombs.

This chapter highlights the boys’ inability to govern themselves systematically. They tend to bicker and come up with rules without much consideration. The tension between Jack and Ralph is unproductive. The group also ignores Piggy’s suggestions to their own detriment. Piggy’s lack of clout is also significant: undermined by Ralph and Jack, Piggy is unable to command the boys’ attention or respect.

Through Ralph and Jack, Golding represents the Romantic or Naturalistic school of thought and the impulsive or militaristic school of thought respectively. Piggy, on the other hand, represents the bureaucratic approach. Notably, all three characters lack a sense of morality. Scholars have suggested that this might be Golding’s way of suggesting that morality is a social construct, that humans are not inherently moral. In other words, morality is acquired. Later in the novel, readers can discern that it is the boys’ lack of morality that prevents them from forging a civilized society on the island.