Load of Flies Important Lines

Important Lines

 

    1. "We've got to have rules and obey them. After all, we're not savages. We're English, and the English are best at everything." 

-   Speaker  : Jack

-   Context  : Early in the novel, Jack insists on the importance of rules and order.

-   Significance  : This quote is   ironic  , as Jack later becomes the embodiment of savagery. It also reflects the boys' initial belief in the superiority of their civilized upbringing, which is gradually undermined as they descend into chaos.

 

    2. "The thing is—fear can't hurt you any more than a dream." 

-   Speaker  : Jack

-   Context  : Jack tries to reassure the boys about their fear of the "beast."

-   Significance  : This quote highlights the   power of fear   in the novel. While Jack dismisses fear as harmless, it ultimately drives much of the conflict and violence among the boys.

 

   

 

    3. "Maybe there is a beast… maybe it's only us." 

-   Speaker  : Simon

-   Context  : Simon suggests that the "beast" might be a manifestation of the boys' own fears and primal instincts.

-   Significance  : This quote foreshadows Simon's realization that the "beast" is not an external threat but the darkness within humanity. It underscores the novel's theme of   the inherent evil within human nature  .

 

   

 

    4. "Kill the pig! Cut her throat! Spill her blood!" 

-   Speaker  : The hunters (led by Jack)

-   Context  : The boys chant this during their hunts, particularly after killing the sow.

-   Significance  : This chant represents the boys' descent into   savagery and violence  . It shows how their primal instincts take over, replacing their initial attempts at civilization with brutality.

 

   

 

    5. "Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill! You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you?" 

-   Speaker  : The "Lord of the Flies" (the pig's head)

-   Context  : Simon hallucinates a conversation with the pig's head, which speaks to him.

-   Significance  : This quote reveals the true nature of the "beast" as the   evil within humanity  . It is one of the most important moments in the novel, as it underscores the theme of inherent human darkness.

 

   

 

    6. "What are we? Humans? Or animals? Or savages?" 

-   Speaker  : Piggy

-   Context  : Piggy questions the boys' behavior as they become increasingly violent and chaotic.

-   Significance  : This quote highlights the novel's central conflict between   civilization and savagery  . Piggy represents reason and intellect, and his question challenges the boys to reflect on their actions.

 

   

 

    7. "Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy." 

-   Speaker  : Narrator

-   Context  : At the end of the novel, Ralph cries as he reflects on the loss of innocence and the deaths of Simon and Piggy.

-   Significance  : This quote captures the novel's   tragic conclusion   and its exploration of human nature. Ralph's tears symbolize the loss of innocence, the recognition of humanity's inherent darkness, and the grief over Piggy's death.

 

   

 

    8. "The world, that understandable and lawful world, was slipping away." 

-   Speaker  : Narrator

-   Context  : Ralph reflects on the breakdown of order and the boys' descent into savagery.

-   Significance  : This quote highlights the   fragility of civilization   and the ease with which it can collapse. It reflects Ralph's growing despair as he realizes that the boys are losing their connection to the civilized world.

 

   

 

    9. "Which is better—to have rules and agree, or to hunt and kill?" 

-   Speaker  : Piggy

-   Context  : Piggy questions the boys' priorities as they abandon the rules and focus on hunting.

-   Significance  : This quote encapsulates the novel's central conflict between   order and chaos, civilization and savagery  . Piggy represents reason and morality, and his question challenges the boys to consider the consequences of their actions.

 

   

 

    10. "The mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness." 

-   Speaker  : Narrator

-   Context  : Jack paints his face with clay and charcoal, transforming into a savage hunter.

-   Significance  : The mask symbolizes Jack's   transformation into savagery  . It allows him to shed his civilized identity and embrace his primal instincts, free from the constraints of morality and shame.

 

   

 

    11. "We did everything adults would do. What went wrong?" 

-   Speaker  : Ralph

-   Context  : Ralph reflects on the boys' failed attempt to create a civilized society.

-   Significance  : This quote highlights the novel's critique of   human nature and civilization  . Despite their efforts to emulate adults, the boys' inherent darkness leads to chaos and violence.

 

   

 

    12. "The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist." 

-   Speaker  : Narrator

-   Context  : Roger rolls a boulder down Castle Rock, killing Piggy and destroying the conch.

-   Significance  : This moment marks the   complete collapse of civilization   on the island. Piggy's death symbolizes the destruction of reason and intellect, while the destruction of the conch represents the end of order and democracy.

 

   

 

    13. "I’m frightened. Of us." 

-   Speaker  : Ralph

-   Context  : Ralph admits his fear of the other boys and their descent into savagery.

-   Significance  : This quote reflects Ralph's growing awareness of the   darkness within humanity  . It underscores the novel's theme that the true threat comes not from external forces but from within.

 

   

 

    14. "You’re a beast and a swine and a bloody, bloody thief!" 

-   Speaker  : Ralph

-   Context  : Ralph confronts Jack after Jack's tribe steals Piggy's glasses.

-   Significance  : This quote reflects Ralph's anger and frustration at Jack's descent into savagery. It also highlights the   breakdown of their relationship   and the growing conflict between civilization and savagery.

 

   

 

    15. "The desire to squeeze and hurt was over-mastering." 

-   Speaker  : Narrator

-   Context  : Roger feels the urge to harm the littluns as he throws stones near them.

-   Significance  : This quote foreshadows Roger's transformation into a   sadistic and violent character  . It reflects the novel's exploration of the   capacity for evil within human nature  .

 

    1. “We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages. We’re English, and the English are best at everything.” 

-   Speaker  : Jack

-   Context  : Early in the novel, Jack insists on the importance of rules and order.

-   Significance  : This quote is   ironic  , as Jack later becomes the embodiment of savagery. It also reflects the boys’ initial belief in the superiority of their civilized upbringing, which is gradually undermined as they descend into chaos.

 

    2. “The thing is—fear can’t hurt you any more than a dream.” 

-   Speaker  : Jack

-   Context  : Jack tries to reassure the boys about their fear of the “beast.”

-   Significance  : This quote highlights the   power of fear   in the novel. While Jack dismisses fear as harmless, it ultimately drives much of the conflict and violence among the boys.

     3. “Maybe there is a beast… maybe it’s only us.” 

-   Speaker  : Simon

-   Context  : Simon suggests that the “beast” might be a manifestation of the boys’ own fears and primal instincts.

-   Significance  : This quote foreshadows Simon’s realization that the “beast” is not an external threat but the darkness within humanity. It underscores the novel’s theme of   the inherent evil within human nature  .

     4. “Kill the pig! Cut her throat! Spill her blood!” 

-   Speaker  : The hunters (led by Jack)

-   Context  : The boys chant this during their hunts, particularly after killing the sow.

-   Significance  : This chant represents the boys’ descent into   savagery and violence  . It shows how their primal instincts take over, replacing their initial attempts at civilization with brutality.

 

    5. “Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill! You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you?” 

-   Speaker  : The “Lord of the Flies” (the pig’s head)

-   Context  : Simon hallucinates a conversation with the pig’s head, which speaks to him.

-   Significance  : This quote reveals the true nature of the “beast” as the   evil within humanity  . It is one of the most important moments in the novel, as it underscores the theme of inherent human darkness.

 

    6. “What are we? Humans? Or animals? Or savages?” 

-   Speaker  : Piggy

-   Context  : Piggy questions the boys’ behavior as they become increasingly violent and chaotic.

-   Significance  : This quote highlights the novel’s central conflict between   civilization and savagery  . Piggy represents reason and intellect, and his question challenges the boys to reflect on their actions.

 

    7. “Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy.” 

-   Speaker  : Narrator

-   Context  : At the end of the novel, Ralph cries as he reflects on the loss of innocence and the deaths of Simon and Piggy.

-   Significance  : This quote captures the novel’s   tragic conclusion   and its exploration of human nature. Ralph’s tears symbolize the loss of innocence, the recognition of humanity’s inherent darkness, and the grief over Piggy’s death.

 

    8. “The world, that understandable and lawful world, was slipping away.” 

-   Speaker  : Narrator

-   Context  : Ralph reflects on the breakdown of order and the boys’ descent into savagery.

-   Significance  : This quote highlights the   fragility of civilization   and the ease with which it can collapse. It reflects Ralph’s growing despair as he realizes that the boys are losing their connection to the civilized world.

 

    9. “Which is better—to have rules and agree, or to hunt and kill?” 

-   Speaker  : Piggy

-   Context  : Piggy questions the boys’ priorities as they abandon the rules and focus on hunting.

-   Significance  : This quote encapsulates the novel’s central conflict between   order and chaos, civilization and savagery  . Piggy represents reason and morality, and his question challenges the boys to consider the consequences of their actions.

 

    10. “The mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness.” 

-   Speaker  : Narrator

-   Context  : Jack paints his face with clay and charcoal, transforming into a savage hunter.

-   Significance  : The mask symbolizes Jack’s   transformation into savagery  . It allows him to shed his civilized identity and embrace his primal instincts, free from the constraints of morality and shame.

 

    11. “We did everything adults would do. What went wrong?” 

-   Speaker  : Ralph

-   Context  : Ralph reflects on the boys’ failed attempt to create a civilized society.

-   Significance  : This quote highlights the novel’s critique of   human nature and civilization  . Despite their efforts to emulate adults, the boys’ inherent darkness leads to chaos and violence.

 

    12. “The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist.” 

-   Speaker  : Narrator

-   Context  : Roger rolls a boulder down Castle Rock, killing Piggy and destroying the conch.

-   Significance  : This moment marks the   complete collapse of civilization   on the island. Piggy’s death symbolizes the destruction of reason and intellect, while the destruction of the conch represents the end of order and democracy.

 

    13. “I’m frightened. Of us.” 

-   Speaker  : Ralph

-   Context  : Ralph admits his fear of the other boys and their descent into savagery.

-   Significance  : This quote reflects Ralph’s growing awareness of the   darkness within humanity  . It underscores the novel's theme that the true threat comes not from external forces but from within.

 

    14. “You’re a beast and a swine and a bloody, bloody thief!” 

-   Speaker  : Ralph

-   Context  : Ralph confronts Jack after Jack’s tribe steals Piggy’s glasses.

-   Significance  : This quote reflects Ralph’s anger and frustration at Jack’s descent into savagery. It also highlights the   breakdown of their relationship   and the growing conflict between civilization and savagery.

     15. “The desire to squeeze and hurt was over-mastering.” 

-   Speaker  : Narrator

-   Context  : Roger feels the urge to harm the littluns as he throws stones near them.

-   Significance  : This quote foreshadows Roger’s transformation into a   sadistic and violent character  . It reflects the novel’s exploration of the   capacity for evil within human nature  .