2.1.2

The Sound of the Shell 2

Test yourself

Jack Merridew

Jack Merridew is the leader of the choir boys. He is also presented as a character who enjoys having power, and has little sympathy for others.

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Other characters

  • After a few moments after Ralph blows into the conch shell, more children begin to appear from the forest:
    • Johnny and 3 other boys – around 6 years old.
    • Another boy around Piggy’s age.
    • Eric and Sam – twins.
    • A group of choir boys.
  • All of the boys are 6-12 years old.
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Jack Merridew

  • The leader of the choir boys, Jack Merridew, talks to Ralph.
  • Jack commands the choir boys to stay in line.
  • However because it is so hot and they have heavy choir robes on, one choir boy (Simon) faints.
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Jack's character

  • Jack allows the other boys to lift Simon up onto a rock.
  • Then he orders them to leave Simon alone because he faints all the time.
  • Jack is immediately presented as a character who enjoys having power, and has little sympathy for others.
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Piggy's humiliation

  • Ralph confirms to Jack that there are no adults on the island.
  • Piggy tells Jack that Ralph blew into the conch shell to call a meeting, and then he begins to talk about the boys.
  • Jack dismisses Piggy:
    • Jack: “You’re talking too much. Shut up, Fatty.”
  • Without knowing much about Piggy, Jack’s first conversation with him causes Piggy some humiliation (much like Ralph earlier).
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Piggy's victimisation

  • Ralph tells Jack that his name isn’t Fatty; it’s Piggy.
  • This causes all of the boys to laugh and start chanting “Piggy!”
  • It does not take very long for the boys to start victimising Piggy because he is different to them.
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Society

  • These initial interactions between Piggy, Ralph and Jack all show a nasty, unfair side of society: people harshly judging others for their appearance or the way they come across.

The Vote

The group decide they need "a chief to decide things” and conduct a vote. Ralph wins but allows Jack to retain control of the choir.

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Finding a leader

  • Jack says that they need to come up with a plan to be rescued.
  • It is Ralph who says: “We ought to have a chief to decide things”.
  • They decide to vote between Jack (who thinks he should be the island chief because he is the choir leader) and Ralph.
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The vote

  • The choir vote for Jack, but everyone else votes for Ralph.
  • Ralph is elected as the chief of the island: “Every hand outside the choir except Piggy’s was raised immediately”.
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Control of the choir

  • Ralph gives control of the choir to Jack (“the choir belongs to you, of course”) which makes Jack start to like Ralph.
  • Jack decides that he and the choir will be the hunters – he allows them to remove their robes.
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Exploration

  • Ralph and Jack decide to explore the island.
  • Piggy wants to join them but is rejected (“We don’t want you”).
  • Instead, they take a boy named Simon.
  • Jack reveals that he has a knife on his belt.

Exploring the Island

Ralph, Jack and Simon head off to explore the island. As they explore, they play-fight and wrestle with each other.

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Power over nature

  • Ralph, Jack and Simon head off to explore the island.
  • They follow an animal track and come to a huge boulder, blocking their path.
  • Together, they push the boulder out of their way and stand on top of the mountain.
    • This could symbolise them exerting their power over nature.
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The island

  • As they stand on top of the island, the boys are able to see that they really are on an island.
  • There are no villages, smoke, or other civilisations on the island.
  • The boys are excited at the idea that they can be the leaders of their own island and that they have plenty of food and water to sustain them.
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A wild pig

  • Walking back down the mountain, the boys see a wild pig tangled in vines.
  • Jack pulls out his knife but pauses too long at the idea of killing a living creature (“They knew very well why he hadn’t: because of the enormity of the knife descending and cutting into living flesh; because of the unbearable blood”.).
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Jack's shame

  • The pig escapes.
  • Jack feels ashamed that he hesitated.
  • He promises Ralph that he will kill the next time he has an opportunity.

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