Lord of the Flies

What does the offering to the beast symbolize in the struggle between Ralph and Jack?

Jack is happy now that he's free of interference from Ralph and Piggy. The real turning point in his struggle between Jack and Ralph, however, isn't Jack's leaving the assembly but the killing of the pig. Jack leads his hunters to appease the beast in the most obvious way that is, by offering it part of the kill. The hunt is now about more than gathering food.

Asked by
Last updated by jill d #170087
Answers 1
Add Yours

The offering of a sacrifice to the beast is performed by the hunters to keep it from harming them. This act is a complete dissent from civilized behavior, and it has everything to do with the primitive instinct they've taken to. The sacrifice is a superstitious display of savagery, and it gives the hunters something they believe they have control over in the midst of chaos.

Source(s)

The Lord of the Flies