Simons Diary

Lord of the Flies
Chapter 4 - Painted Faces and Long Hair

"They Killed the Pig"
Perspective: Simon

Dear Diary,

All of the other boys don't seem to understand that we need to work on shelters and Ralph is getting frustrated. All of the boys just want to eat and play and they do not help at all. It is just me and him building the shelters. Even Piggy refuses to help. He is quiet belligerent about it. The boys don't understand that we need to work if we are going to get rescued. The littleuns help for five minutes and then get bored and go and play with sand castles or eat some fruit. The problem is that I sometimes have to help get it for them because the stuff on the lower branches and on the ground is rotten and then they get stomach aches and diarrhea.

All of the boys painted their faces to hunt and kill the pig. They seemed different. A lot more violent and blood thirsty. Like once they put the face paint on they are no longer the boys from England. But they hunters that will kill for meat, or just for fun. That can not happen if Ralph is to remain in control and everything to remain peaceful. We could have been rescued if Jack hadn't come along and gone on and told everyone to paint their face and go hunting we might have been rescued. There was a ship out there. It should have seen the signal fire. But the boys that should have been keeping watch went hunting and let the fire go out. If they had kept it going and put some green branches in it we would be off the island. There is no balm for that. The feeling of hope now is almost impalpable.

Now Ralph is mad at Jack because he went on the pig hunt and left the fire to burn out. Also because of the way he says things it makes it look like he is the gentleman and not Ralph. Ralph can barley hold onto the boys now. They all admire Jack Merridew for being and gentlemen and apologizing and killing the pig and getting us meat and they love wacthing the gouts of blood falling from it. But Ralph is going to snap. He used to be friends with Jack but everyone can tell that they are not anymore. When ever they talk there is a certain swarthiness that comes over everyone. He will finally say something to Jack then we will end up divided. Chaos will reign. And that would be bad. Very bad.