Post Due Thurs. 4/7

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In this post, please answer and discuss the following prompt:

 The idea of the beast has come up several times now, and in this chapter the boys actually believe (well, some of them) there is a beast and go looking for it. There are a lot of symbols in this book, but the beast is a major one. What does the beast stand for, as a symbol? Think about how the idea of a beast comes up in the story and the fact that they have been scared of this thing that may or may not even exist, for several chapters now. Why are they so scared of it even though they cannot confirm its existence?

Basically, what does the beast represent on the island, for the boys, and in this little “society” that they have landed themselves in?

And finally - Ralph doesn’t believe that there is a beast, but he still goes on the hunt. Why?





Again, remember to use specific examples and quotes from the book. The posts are graded out of 25 points.

Also, don’t forget to reply to your classmates! Check in every once in a while to see if someone has responded to your posts.

Everything is due by 6:30 AM.

In my opinion it seems like there are multiple possibilities as to what the beast could be. One possiblity is that the beast is just one of the boys. Above the quote ending in "maybe it's only us" was said by Simon, who seems to feel that the boys are just confusing another boy with a scary monster. However, the fear could also be the fear of the unknown. The boys may be giving a name to something that is not really there, in order to address it more directly. The fact the the littluns were the first to see/mention the beast makes me wonder if they actually did see something?

Although Raplh and a few of the other older boys try to dismiss this fear of the beast, I feel that deep down they are also scared. Therefore, Raplh goes searching for the beast not only to calm the nerves of the boys, but also to prove to himself that there is no beast on the island.

I think that the beast sybolizes a fear that the boys have. Now in the story this beast has become a major issue and delays the boys form restoring the island. I also think that the beast could be the unknown,like what will happen in the future for the boys. I think that ralph and the other boys are very scared but also curios. So ralph and the other boys go to look for this beast so they can solve their curiosity and to overcome their fear.

In my opinion the best represent the fear of the unknown (like stated by @abcd1234) and also the fear of failure and death. I think the fear of the unknown because the boys-at the beginning of the chapter- still haven't explored the whole island and have no idea what could be in the areas that they haven't seen yet. And I also think it's the fear of death because these boys don't know if they will survive, but have been doing fairly well so far. But as soon as they see that something has hurt Eric they suddenly all seem to believe in the beast as shown in the quote "I'm all rough. Am I bleeding?' The circle of boys shrank away in horror" I think their sudden believing in the beast is an affect of them doing so well and now there is a prominent threat to their survival and suddenly they can only blame it on what they can't see instead of blaming themselves.

In my opinion there are many ways that there could be a beast but there is many things that say there isn't. First like we were saying in class that there were pigs but we don't know how many so that mean there couldn't be a beast because there are pigs but there also can be because there were many signs they saw that it can be a beast with them

Google says that the beast symbolizes the primal instinct  of savagery and that the beast is inside all of them. Which is over 9000% wrong. As they are little kids that are generally scared of little things. Also they aren't so much scared of the beast but fear its self. As Franklin D. Roosevelt said "The only thing we need to fear is fear its self". It also symbolizes the ignorance of little kids of thinking there is a beast that will get them. This is a kind of a thing to make them ignore the factor that they are all by themselves on an inhabited island. They are scared because people fear the unknown, they also do not know what to expect so they want to be scared.

The beast represents the island as Hell and unpredictable, as well fear is represented. The fear was shown when the twins got scared evidence is when the twins say"We saw-- the beast--plain". This had pauses which show the hesitation of shock and being frightened. Ralph doesn't believe in the beast but he goes because he is curiosity because many people have said they have seen it, so he would like to check it out for himself. So this tempts him to hunt for it and see if it is legitimate.

I mean Piggy guys is a beast that is greater than god. Piggy2016 "Pig we can"

@(squid ward tentacles)I agree with squidward as it is fear of death and failure and that it is affecting their survival also it is fear of fear and these are little kids.

Piggy 2016 "Pig we can"

squidward tentacles wrote:In my opinion the best represent the fear of the unknown (like stated by @abcd1234) and also the fear of failure and death. I think the fear of the unknown because the boys-at the beginning of the chapter- still haven't explored the whole island and have no idea what could be in the areas that they haven't seen yet. And I also think it's the fear of death because these boys don't know if they will survive, but have been doing fairly well so far. But as soon as they see that something has hurt Eric they suddenly all seem to believe in the beast as shown in the quote "I'm all rough. Am I bleeding?' The circle of boys shrank away in horror" I think their sudden believing in the beast is an affect of them doing so well and now there is a prominent threat to their survival and suddenly they can only blame it on what they can't see instead of blaming themselves.

ADCT
I agree with squidward tentacles about the fact that the beast represents the fear of the unknown because it is like what

Franklin D. Roosevelt said:"So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is...fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and of vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. And I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days"

and there is a such a thing called fearing fear itself because fear is caused by the unknown which is xenophobia and fear of fear is agoraphobia.

The reason it is feared even though it can't be proven that it exists is exactly why they are scared of it. At first,
Piggy tries to prove the littluns wrong until they make him start believing it.

"He says the beast comes out of the sea"-Jack, Chapter 5, Page 81

"Maybe he means it's some sort of ghost"-someone spoke out of turn, Chapter 5, Page 82

Golding made the beast unexplainable deliberately to emphasize the symbolism of the beast.

The beast represents the dangers that could be in store for Ralph's "little society" because they are away from true civilization and supervision.

Finally, Ralph still goes on the hunt for the beast because he believes it is real like everyone else if he didn't he wouldn't take some much precautions.
P.S. maybe Ralph would've been a better leader by using some of Jack's ideas once in a while like the fort which isn't that bad.

(@ABCD1234) I dont rethink it is because they are so much scared but curious to find the truth even though they can't handle it.

Piggy 2016 "Pig we can"

(@[url=/u5]AndyDufresneCrawledThru[/url]) Totally didn't rip me off with the FDR quote.:D  And i agree with everything you said. They aren't savages or scared of the beast they are fearing fear.

Piggy 2016 "Pig we can"

(@[url=/u70]c[/url][url=/u70]hampagnepapi[/url]) I feel the curiosity but not the scared of the beast.

Piggy 2016 "Pig we can"

In my opinion I feel as if the beast symbolizes the fear that the boys have. Like we said there may or may not be a beast on the island and that's why I think that the fear that the boys have symbolizes the beast. I think that Ralph still goes on th search to really find out if there really is a beast on the island. I think that he just goes on the search to prove to everyone and himself that there really is no beast on the island.

The beast represents the everyday promblems of society. Even though they know there is no beast they need and objecg to manafest our fears. We also have to remember these people are just kids. They di not have the social cues and training to know when someone does not actually believe in somthing. Aslo just as a side not in this chapter it also conrradicts the way human nature ism

The beast could represent how primal humans weren't always the top preadator. As these kids are learning to become more primal in order to suvive, they are also encountered by this beast. This beast could be real,, but also could be an imaginary thing. In primal humans, fear was essential for survival, and this could just be the brains imaginary reason for fear to help them survive. Ralph follows them on the hunt because of two reasons. One, he wants the fire the fire to be lit. Secondly, he feels that if he doesn't come, Jack may take control, and could want more in the future, adding to the conflict

I think the unknown beast represents unknown fear for the boys. it is a irrational fear for the boys but it keeps them in a little more order and on edge. Ralph keeps hunting because he needs to get food for the group and is over coming his fear of the unknown.

The beast symbolizes the unknown forest. The children are to young and dumb witted to figure out the true meaning of the forest. I think that the "beast" will haunt them and they will eventually go crazy and hurt themselves. Jack goes on the hunt, because he is the leader and feels like he needs to monitor them. He is older than the others and is old enough to not believe in the beasts, yet I think he is still curious. They are to crazy looking to protect themselves, that they are going to not help their cause to survive.