What happens in Chapter 10 of Lord of the Flies? Chapter 10 of Lord of the Flies shows the growing power struggle and descent into savagery among the boys. In this chapter, blame for Simon’s death is shifted, alliances break down, and Jack’s tribe becomes even more ruthless. In this article, we’ll provide a summary and analysis of the key events and their impact on the story in Lord of the Flies Chapter 10.
What happens in Chapter 10 of Lord of the Flies?
In Chapter 10 of Lord of the Flies, the aftermath of Simon’s death weighs heavily on the boys. Jack refuses to take responsibility, instead blaming the beast for what happened. Golding writes:
“‘He came—disguised. He may come again even though we gave him the head of our kill to eat. So watch and be careful.'”
Jack uses fear to control his tribe, insisting that the beast is still a threat and positioning himself as the only one who can protect them. The divide between Ralph’s group and Jack’s tribe grows wider.
That night, Jack and his hunters attack Ralph’s group while they’re sleeping and steal Piggy’s glasses—the only way to start a fire for cooking or rescue signals. This act leaves Ralph’s group powerless and further strengthens Jack’s authority.
By the end of Chapter 10, Jack believes he is now the true chief. The narrator explains:
“Power lay in the brown shell of his forearms: authority sat on his shoulder and chattered in his ear like an ape.”
Chapter 10 shows Jack ruling through fear and violence, while Ralph struggles to hold on to any sense of order or hope for rescue.
Who does Ralph beat up in Chapter 10?
In Chapter 10 of Lord of the Flies, Ralph and Eric end up beating each other up by mistake during the confusion when Jack’s tribe attacks their camp.
What does Jack do in Chapter 10 Lord of the Flies?
In Chapter 10 of Lord of the Flies, Jack acts like a cruel dictator by having a boy tied up and beaten. He raids Ralph’s camp to steal fire and back at Castle Rock he tells his tribe they fought, but didn’t kill, the beast.
What does Piggy blame Simon’s death on in Chapter 10?
In Chapter 10, Piggy blames Simon’s death on “an accident.”
Was Piggy’s death an accident?
Piggy’s death wasn’t an accident. It was on purpose and shows the boys have lost their last link to civilization.
Concusion
In short, Chapter 10 is a turning point where Jack blames the beast for Simon’s death, doesn’t take responsibility, and has his tribe steal Piggy’s glasses. He now rules through fear and violence, believing himself to be the true chief.