Civility versus Savagery

When the boys find themselves alone on an island without an adult, they are still civilized and immediately set about building a community. Ralph is elected the leader, and he begins by making a few rules. The first rule is that the person holding the conch is the only person who should be speaking during a meeting. The others have to listen. Another rule, or suggestion, Ralph makes is that their best chance of being rescued will be if they have a signal fire. Ralph wants all the boys to participate in building and keeping the signal fire going. Ralph also suggests that they build a shelter in case it rains the way it did the first day they were there.

Ralph has many good ideas, and, for the first few days, things go well. However, as the children discover the freedom associated with...