In chapter five, Simon is trying to tell the boys something about the beast, but they don’t understand him. Why don’t they understand him?

Simon relates one of the main themes of the book. While the boys argue and speculate over the beast, Simon comments on the idea that the beast lies inside themselves.

Maybe," he said hesitantly, "maybe there is a beast."

"What I mean is.....maybe it's only us."

This metaphor is, of course, too figurative for the boys to understand.