“Lord of the Flies” by William Golding,

In the novel “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding, after Ralph and the boys have been on the island for some time, . This chapter first opens with a very dark mood, where vivid descriptions of Jack hunting in the jungle are depicted. This amount of tension created is then further intensified through a strong disagreement between the two leaders of the pack, as Jack only cares about hunting while Ralph thinks building shelters should be prioritized. In the midst of all this, Simon is aware of everything, but is not involved. It is through this character that Golding is able to show a significant amount of contrast between the beginning and the end of chapter 3, when Simon is later shown wandering off alone in the jungle. The last passage in the chapter portraying this appears to be a break from the hunting and the strong arguments between Jack and Ralph. Through this peculiar character’s views, not only a much more beautiful side of the forest is emphasized upon and brought out, but Golding is also successful in using the passage to help convey the idea that good and evil live concurrently within everyone.
One of the elements which made this passage so successful in conveying this is the mood the author has created. If the hunting, Jack’s blood thirst, or the arguments that were so strong at the beginning of the chapter create a general feel of darkness and tension, this passage is able to create different atmosphere. From the beginning of the passage, this change of mood could already be felt as Simon “came at last to a place where more sunshine fell”. The diction used to describe the sunshine almost brightens up the scenery, creating a very light mood. However, as readers go on, it is apparent that this lightness is not the only layer in the atmosphere. Instead, the long descriptions and imageries create a very slow pace, painting a background that is not only radiant but also has underlying aspects of mystery and gloom. This is reflected through the use of