Chapters three and four: pages 48-76
" 'I went on,' said Jack. 'I let them go. I had to go on [hunting]. I-'
He tried to convey the compulsion to track down and kill that was swallowing him up." (Golding 51)
http://www.classicshorts.com/stories/danger.html
One thing that I noticed while reading is that Golding always contrast the beauty of the island to the darkness that human's can sometimes have. For instance, at the very beginning of the novel, the boy's frequently a mention a "scar" on the island. This is the place where their ship left a mark on the land. This could be representative of the negative impact that the boy's are making on the island, leaving a scar on the once beautiful beach. Plus, in this chapter, right after Ralph and Jack finish fighting, Simon wanders off into the forest. He finds a seclusive area in the forest, and Golding describes it as something beautiful:
"Simon dropped the screen of leaves back into place. The slope of the bars of honey-colored sunlight decreased; they slid up the bushes, passed over the green candle-like buds, moved up toward the canopy, and darkness thickened under the trees. With the fading of the light the riotous colors died and the heat and urgency cooled away. The candle-buds stirred. Their green sepals drew back a little and the white tips of the flowers rose delicately to meet the open air." (Golding 57)
"They were relieved from from duty at the fire and had come down for a swim. Roger led the way straight through the castles, kicking them over, burying the flowers, scattering the chosen stones. Maurice followed, laughing, and added to the destruction... Only Percival began to whimper with an eyeful of sand and Maurice hurried away. In his other life Maurice had received chastisement for filling a younger eye with sand. Now, though there was no parent to let fall a heavy hand, Maurice still felt the unease of wrongdoing." (Golding 60)
Now let's just talk about the missed ship for a second. That seriously sucks. I think I would've handled the situation the exact same as Ralph had. Although I probably would've just forgiven Jack's half-assed apology because that would've helped keep the leadership together. But I think it was good that Ralph didn't forgive him because from this choice he clearly established his status of chief. #timshel
"No one, not even Jack, would ask him to move and in the end they had to build the fire three yards away and in a place not really as convenient.
So Ralph asserted his chieftainship and could not have chosen a better way if he had thought for days. Against this weapon, so indefinable and so effective, Jack was powerless and raged without knowing why." (Golding 73)
Now here's a theory. Unfortunately I can't tell exactly when this book was supposed to take place, but guessing from the clothes they were described as wearing in chapter one, I'm assuming it was a long time ago. Plus the boys still considered England to be the best country in the world. So what I'm thinking is that this took place during WWII. At the beginning Ralph always commented on how his dad from the navy would save him, plus Piggy mentioned how he believes everyone else at home is dead. I don't know what kind of tragedy struck, but I think there is something else outside of the plane crash that has effected society.
And here is an ironic gif portraying Jack's character change :)