After the boys successfully hunt and spear the wild boar in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, they engage in a primal game that mirrors their adrenaline-fueled excitement. They reenact the hunt, where they pretend to chase, stab, and kill the boar, lost in a frenzy of violence and savagery. This playful yet brutal mimicry unleashes their inner instincts and bonds them together through shared aggression and thrill.
For Ralph, this experience is troubling. Initially, he feels a rush of exhilaration as he participates in the hunt, but the excitement quickly turns to unease. As he observes the boys submitting to their darker instincts, Ralph grows increasingly aware of the descent into savagery. He feels a sense of alienation from the group, as he clings to the values of order and civilization. This internal conflict becomes a source of anxiety for him, highlighting the struggle between the allure of power in primal activities and the need for structured society. Ralph’s feelings amplify his growing disillusionment with the boys and foreshadow the chaos that will follow as order erodes and savagery takes over.