SUMMARY (CHAPTER 10):

THE SHELL AND THE GLASSES

 Next morning, Ralph, Piggy, Sam and Eric try to
excuse their part in Simon’s murder by calling it
“an accident”.
 Jack’s tribe have turned Castle Rock into a
guarded fort where Jack rules with fear and
intimidation.
 Jack decrees that Simon was the beast in
disguise and that the beast may return.
 Jack decides to leave another sacrifice for
the beast.
 They raid Ralph and Piggy in the night and
take Piggy’s specs so that they can now
make fire.
SIGNIFICANCE

Inchapter 10, conch is merely an

object, it symbolizes fading of
Ralph’s power.

Jack’s ability to make fire

emphasizes his power over the
island.
 “At length Ralph got up and went to the conch. He
took the shell caressingly with both hands and knelt,
leaning against the trunk.” (page 192, paragraph 7)

 At the opening of the chapter, most of the boys have

joined Jack leaving only Ralph and Piggy on the beach
with some littluns, with Sam & Eric gathering wood.

 The conch was once a symbol of authority and

civilization.
It has now become meaningless.

 Ralph clings to it for comfort as he reflects on what has

happened to Simon.
Different characters are revealed
through their varying reactions to
Simon’s death.
(a) Ralph-insists Simon’s death was
a murder.
“That was murder.” (page 193, paragraph 2)
(b) Piggy-cannot accept any guilt
“It was an accident.”(page 193, last paragraph)
 “That was murder.” (page 193,
paragraph 2)

 Piggy tries to rationalize the killing of

Simon while Ralph makes the statement
that they have committed murder.

 This judgment seems strangely out of

place, however, in a place which has been
stripped of laws and a moral code.
Loss of Piggy’s glasses
(a) Piggy becomes more helpless
and ineffectual.
(b) Ralph’s power as an intellectual
leader has been diminished.
Addiction to bloodlust and
frenzy.
Doubt and fear is getting
worse among the littluns.