Chapter 3: Summary and Analysis

Huts On the Beach

Ralph and Simon have not had much success in their attempts to build huts. The two huts they have managed to put together are poorly built. Jack’s hunting crew has also fared poorly; they haven’t managed to kill a single pig yet. Meanwhile, Jack and Ralph have grown more critical of each other’s leadership.

Ralph complains that he is receiving little help, that most of the boys only seem interested in swimming, hunting, and merriment. Jack states that he feels unsafe while hunting. He feels he is being followed by some creature and recalls the six-year-old boy’s account of the “beastie.”

Meanwhile, Simon has fashioned his own retreat deep in the forest. On his way to the retreat, Simon routinely helps some boys spot and pick ripe fruits. However, he ensures that the boys do not follow him to his retreat.

This chapter not only highlights the growing ineffectiveness of Ralph and Jack’s leadership but also points to the island’s untamable wildness. Indeed, toward the end of the chapter, the island seems to give off an overwhelming aroma that nearly takes over the boys’ senses.