What does maintenance mean in Lord of the Flies? If you’re reading Lord of the Flies, you’ll notice that the idea of “maintenance” comes up as the boys try to survive on the island. In this context, maintenance means all the work and effort needed to keep things running smoothly, such as tending the signal fire, building shelters, and making sure everyone follows agreed-upon rules. The concept becomes a big part of the boys’ struggle to create order and hold their little society together as things start to unravel.
What does maintenance mean in Lord of the Flies?
In Lord of the Flies, the word “maintenance” refers to the effort needed to keep things in order and working properly on the island. The boys quickly realize that survival isn’t just about fun and adventure because it also takes a lot of ongoing work. For example, they need to maintain the signal fire so they have a chance of being rescued, and they have to look after their shelters and basic needs.
Golding writes about these struggles:
“We’ve got to have special people for looking after the fire. Any day there may be a ship out there… and if we have a signal going they’ll come and take us off.”
This shows how important maintenance is in terms of not just physically keeping things going, but also maintaining order and cooperation among the group. Without this effort, things start to fall apart, which is exactly what happens as the story goes on.
How do they maintain order in Lord of the Flies?
In Lord of the Flies, Ralph tries to maintain order by holding regular meetings, using the conch shell to give everyone a chance to speak, and setting up ground rules for the group. He also stresses the importance of keeping the signal fire burning for rescue and making sure everyone helps with chores like building shelters and keeping the camp clean. Through these efforts, Ralph tries to create a sense of governance and cooperation among the boys.
Who maintains the fire on the mountain in Lord of the Flies?
In Lord of the Flies, Jack’s choir boys are given the responsibility of maintaining the fire on the mountain, which also serves as a signal to passing ships for rescue. However, the choir, and especially Jack, are more interested in hunting than looking after the fire. Their neglect of this duty leads to one of the first big arguments on the island when a ship passes by, and they have no signal fire burning.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “maintenance” in Lord of the Flies is all about the ongoing effort required to keep order and survival possible on the island. Without regular maintenance, like keeping the fire going or building shelters, the boys’ society quickly falls apart. Golding uses this idea to show how easily chaos can take over when people stop working together to maintain structure and cooperation.