Skip to main content

Can anyone provide me with the quote in William Golding's Lord of the Flies where Piggy first suggests making a list?

In chapter 1 when Piggy and Ralph have not yet met any of the other boys, Piggy asks Ralph his name and expects Ralph to ask him his name. To remind Ralph to return the courtesy, Piggy says, "I expect we'll want to know all their names ... and make a list." He then suggests having a meeting. Ralph doesn't take the hint, and doesn't continue the conversation, so Piggy ends up revealing his nickname...

In chapter 1 when Piggy and Ralph have not yet met any of the other boys, Piggy asks Ralph his name and expects Ralph to ask him his name. To remind Ralph to return the courtesy, Piggy says, "I expect we'll want to know all their names ... and make a list." He then suggests having a meeting. Ralph doesn't take the hint, and doesn't continue the conversation, so Piggy ends up revealing his nickname rather than his real name. That does catch Ralph's attention, and he immediately begins teasing Piggy. 


Later, Ralph throws the idea of the list back in Piggy's face. Piggy tries to get each boy's name as he appears while Ralph is blowing the conch. He shouts each name out at Ralph, but Ralph shows no interest. During the first meeting, Piggy says, "We got most names. ... Got 'em just now." Piggy is trying to be useful as well as trying to impress Ralph. Nevertheless, Ralph spurns Piggy when choosing two boys to explore the island. He tells Piggy to remain behind and take names. In chapter 2 when the boys build the first fire that gets out of control, Piggy laments that the boys haven't "put first things first." They have played at building a fire before taking account of all the littluns. Ralph shoots back at him, "I told you to get a list of names!" Ralph unfairly blames Piggy for not taking the responsibility that Ralph didn't take seriously. 


In chapter 8, when Jack has left the group, taking most of the biguns with him, Ralph becomes more interested in making a list than Piggy is. Ralph says, "We'll have to make a new list of who's to look after the fire." Piggy replies, "If you can find 'em." When Ralph reiterates, "We've got to have a list," Piggy "leaned forward and put a fragment of wood on the fire." He replies without matching Ralph's level of concern, "I expect they've gone. I expect they won't play either." The role reversal between Piggy and Ralph and their interest in lists is ironic and unfortunate. If Ralph and Piggy had seen eye to eye and respected each other's point of view more, the boys would have been better off.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...

Why did Tybalt attack and kill Mercutio instead of Romeo, who he had originally been targeting?

Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio... Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio and Benvolio, Mercutio responds "And but one word with one of us?/ Couple it w...