In William Golding's novel Lord of the Flies, the boys trapped on the island rapidly divide and fall into conflict. This passage illustrates not only the conflict on the island but a third perspective on the matter that taps into overarching themes of human nature.
One of the great motivators of this collapse is the fear of the Beast. The primal fear of a predator wreaks havoc on the other decisions that the boys' society depends on. This passage demonstrates the effects of this fear, what Ralph describes as a "breaking up of sanity."
In one camp, Ralph insists that the Beast does not exist, as demonstrated through his shocked reply, "You, Simon? You believe in this?" On the other hand, Jack uses fear of the beast to elevate his position in the boys' society.
Simon's perspective on the Beast is figurative, and Golding manipulates his character to reveal a more insidious possibility. Rather than fear an external monster, Simon looks inward and ventures the possibility that "maybe it's only us." The boys on the island fear the violence and wildness of the Beast, but their fears are motivating them toward actions of violence and untamed savagery. As such, the Beast could very well be real -- their own fears realized through their actions.
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