Blog #5 (LOTF)

Chapter Five: Beast From Water

Just Business

Perspective: Ralph

Why is an assembly called?

I called a meeting so we could talk to the littluns about this "beast" they believe is watching them. I also wanted to talk to everyone about how nobody seems to be doing their job anymore. I wanted them to know how important it was to do our jobs, or we wouldn't survive on this island.

What concerns are brought up?

During the meeting, some of the littluns talked about what they think they've seen in the forest at night. One of the boys said he saw the "beast" near the shelters one night, but we later found out it was just Simon. He said he had gone to a place he knows in the forest, but he wouldn't tell us what it was. We also talked about how we had to do our jobs

How do you feel about those concerns?

I don't think the littluns should be scared of anything, since the island is very small and the hunters, Simon, Piggy, and I have seen most of it. There is no way an animal like the one they talk about can live on an island so small. Instead of being scared of some ludicrous dream, they should help build shelters or bring water for the ones who are working.

How are things breaking up?

Things haven't been looking very well lately, and I think it's because of many things. First off, the littluns aren't helping at all to build the shelters or bring water from the stream. Another thing that makes me upset is that during the meeting, Jack didn't tell the littluns there was no beast, but instead told them he and the rest of the hunters could kill it. This makes the littluns trust him more than me, since they think he can save them from the animal. Jack really shouldn't have done that, as it is against the rules to take the conch from someone. Besides, I'm supposed to be chief, not him, and I should be the biggest effigy of power to the littluns.

Why do you think the littluns cry in their sleep?

I think the littluns cry because they're scared of the island. Most of them are very small, and have probably never been alone before. My best guess is that they miss their mothers or are still afraid of the dark. Piggy and I are trying to let them know there's nothing to be afraid of so we don't have to hear their lamentation every night. I also think they might be crying because they feel the tension building every time Jack and I argue about something.

What was Percival Wemys Madison afraid of?

Percival seems to miss home more than the other littluns, and often cries when people fight around him. He's also afraid of the "beast" like all the other littluns, but I think he's smart for a boy his age, since was taught to say his address every time we asked his name. Repeating his address doesn't help much here, especially when he starts crying in the middle of his discursive speech. It's weird how he believes his address is some sort of incantation that will bring him back home.

What do you think is the "dirtiest thing there is" about human nature?

I think the biggest problem people have is competitiveness and bad sportsmanship. If people could just learn not to get angry after a loss, they wouldn't do embarrassing things to try to get back at the winner. One example of this is Jack, who is always trying to get the littluns to listen to him and not me.

What is your attitude about decision making and being chief?

There are some advantages to being chief, like being able to choose people's jobs for them, or telling them to do something without being confronted. When the chief tells people to do something, they do it, because they think,"He's chief, so he obviously has a good reason for this!". There are also disadvantages, though, since everybody is counting on you to do the right thing when you're chief, and it's a lot of pressure. My government over the littluns isn't really working out, and I almost quit being chief, had it not been for Piggy reminding me why I couldn't.

How have you changed since you arrived on the island?

I think I have become a better person since I got to the island, since I've had to learn to be nice to the littluns when I'm around them. I also think I'm a lot more responsible now that I have to lead a crowd of kids. I'm constantly telling people to do their jobs, or to make the fire bigger, or go get water, even if I know they're not going to do it.