5.1.4

Naming

Test yourself

Naming

Names in the novel are very significant.

Illustrative background for Jack MerridewIllustrative background for Jack Merridew ?? "content

Jack Merridew

  • Jack is the only main character for whom Golding provides us with a surname.
  • There may be a number of reasons for this:
    • Jack is important to the story and the wider moral around the inner savagery of humans and how dangerous it can be.
    • Jack himself feels that he is the most important person on the island – he is arrogant and self-centred.
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Jack cont.

  • Reasons cont:
    • Jack feels that social class is important – his surname is his family name, and he comes from an upper-class family.
    • Therefore, he feels that the other boys ought to know his social status. He also looks down on Piggy, who is from a lower class.
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Piggy

  • Near the start of the novel, Piggy wants Ralph to ask him his name but Ralph does not.
  • Piggy tells Ralph that he just doesn’t want anyone to use the nickname he gets in school: Piggy.
  • Ralph immediately latches on to the name, and he is the one who reveals it to everyone else.
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Piggy cont.

  • Piggy is never viewed as important enough by the other boys to deserve a real name (possibly due to social class, possibly due to him being visibly different to them).
  • Jack has an unhealthy, violent obsession around hunting and killing pigs – this links to his pure hatred of Piggy, as well as Piggy’s violent death.
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The Littleuns

  • This collective name refers to the young group of boys on the island.
  • These boys represent the younger, weaker, more vulnerable members of society.
  • The very adjective “little” suggests that these boys need to be protected and cared for.
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Roger and the Littleuns

  • The name of this group shows Roger’s evil nature immediately.
  • Rather than caring for them (like Simon does), he throws rocks near them to scare them – with no provocation from them.
  • Most of their names are not known to the reader.
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Pawns

  • The Littleuns are used as pawns in the fight for power on the island.
  • Eventually, they join Jack’s tribe because he offers some protection from the “beast”.

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