Discuss the significance of Mock-hunts in 'Lord of the Flies". [2021, 2016] ✪✪✪
William Golding (1911–1993), in his novel “Lord of the Flies” (1954), uses the mock-hunts as a powerful symbol of the boys’ moral and psychological downfall. These mock-hunts, which begin as harmless games, slowly turn into acts of cruelty and real violence. Through them, Golding shows how civilization fades and savagery grows in human nature. The mock-hunts are not just games—they are steps toward chaos, bloodlust, and the loss of innocence among the boys.
Beginning Of The Mock-Hunts: At first, the boys’ mock-hunts are playful and exciting. They act out pig-hunting scenes with joy and imagination. The chant,
“Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood,”
It begins as fun but hides growing aggression. Ralph and even the gentle Simon join briefly, showing how violence tempts everyone. Golding uses these moments to reveal that the line between play and cruelty is thin. What starts as a childish game soon becomes a sign of their deep moral decay and hidden desire for power.
Growth of Savage Instincts: The mock-hunts mark the boys’ growing obsession with killing. Jack becomes the leader of the hunters and enjoys control over others. He says,
“We’ll hunt and kill the beast.”
His words make the hunt sacred and turn fear into violence. Each mock-hunt pushes them closer to real killing. The boys paint their faces, losing their individual identity. As the hunts become wilder, they stop thinking about rescue. Golding shows how the instinct for blood replaces reason and order, and savagery takes control of their hearts.
The Symbol of Power and Control: The mock-hunts also become a tool of power. Jack uses them to attract followers and rule through fear. His group chants together, dances, and feels united by violence. The hunts give them a false sense of strength and belonging. Golding shows that violence becomes a way to control others. When Jack leads the boys in killing pigs, they feel brave and free. Yet this freedom is only moral blindness. The mock-hunts thus symbolize the dangerous attraction of power without responsibility or compassion.
Connection to Real Violence: The mock-hunts prepare the boys for real killings. During one chant, they attack Robert, pretending he is the pig. The narrator says,
“The desire to squeeze and hurt was over-mastering.”
This moment shows how their play turns into real cruelty. Later, they kill Simon in the same way, mistaking him for the beast. The mock-hunts are no longer games—they become deadly rituals. Golding uses this to show how humans can lose control of their actions when driven by emotion and fear.
Symbol of Civilization’s Collapse: The final stage of the mock-hunts shows complete savagery. The boys forget all rules and morals. The chant, the dance, and the fire destroy every sign of civilization. Ralph’s group breaks apart, and Jack’s tribe rules through terror. The mock-hunt against Ralph turns into a real human hunt. Golding writes that
“Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood.”
This proves that the boys have become total savages. The mock-hunts finally expose the beast within human nature and the death of innocence.
In termination, the mock-hunts reflect the gradual rise of evil in human hearts. They begin as games but end in real bloodshed. Through them, Golding shows how quickly civilization collapses when moral rules are ignored. The mock-hunts are a terrifying symbol of man’s hidden cruelty and a warning about the darkness that lies within all people.
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