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"This toy of voting was almost as pleasing as the conch... But there was a stillness about Ralph as he sat that marked him out: there was his size, and attractive appearance; and most obscurely, yet most powerfully, there was the conch" (22).

The diction regarding the vote is most significant here. That voting is described as a "toy" signifies that the boys don't see their situation as real or something they need to take seriously but rather just a game that they're playing. This moment also sets up the conch as a powerful symbol of unity and civilization. That Ralph having the conch is identified as a reason for the boys choosing him as chief denotes its power in their eyes. As the novel progresses, we see the conch serve as boys' connection to their old life, but the longer they stay on the island, the weaker this connection becomes (as is illustrated by the conch fading in color in later chapters).

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"They flapped at the first of the trees, and the branches grew a brief foliage of fire.  The heart of flame leapt nimbly across the gap between the trees and then went swinging and flaring along the whole row of them.  Beneath the capering boys a quarter of a mile square of forest was savage with smoke and flame.  The separate noises of the fire merged into a drum roll that seemed to shake the mountain" (44)

The idea of the fire is being developed as a symbol of hope  for the boys to get off of the island.  They are excited as the fire begins to engulf the mountain; as children it can be inferred that they were not allowed to play with fire, thus again, representing a game for them.  However, the diction used to portray the fire personifies it as an almost evil being that is set on destruction, foreshadowing  what the fire comes to represent/how it is used in the final chapters.

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"He [Jack] tried to convey the compulsion to track down and kill that was swallowing him up" (51).

Though in this moment Jack is focused on hunting and killing a pig, it certainly foreshadows behavior that it is to come. Jack's strong desire to kill is literally "swallowing him up" (51), and it is significant that it not defined what he wants to track down and kill. The absence of the pig denotes that eventually, Jack will need to move on to hunting something other than pigs (humans) in order to satisfy this thirst.

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"Roger's  arm was conditioned by a civilization that knew nothing of him and was in ruins" (62).

Roger is representative of the descent into savagery very quickly, as he embodies an evil nature that hasn't yet come to surface. Roger hesitates in throwing the rock for now, because his behavior is conditioned by the rules of a society that he's no longer part of. But, this moment foreshadows that he won't be stayed for long by the rules, as there are no adults there to monitor his behavior and dish out consequences when he steps out of line.

This moment is also ironic because the civilization Roger emanates from is in ruins due to a war; Roger's behavior is deemed unacceptable in a civilized society, but is seen as acceptable in war. As the children try to hold on to civilization, their own is in ruins due to similar behavior the boys engage in that deems them as savages.

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"I was chief, and you were going to do what I said. You talk. But you can't even build huts--then you go off hunting and let out the fire--"... "There was a ship--" (71).

The hope of rescue is symbolized by the prospect of signaling a ship with a fire. It's the first idea the boys have while on the island, knowing this is their only hope at rescue. When the ship passes, their hope of rescue diminishes. The boys are unsure if they'll ever have another opportunity to be rescued. Thus, this passing ship and their lack of ability to track it down symbolizes a loss of hope. When the boys lost hope that they'll be rescued, they also start to lose accountability of their actions. This is truly the moment that begins their descent; if they won't be rescued, then they won't have to answer to their deeds on the island.

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“What are we? Humans? Or animals? Or savages? What’s grownups going to think? Going off-hunting pigs-letting fires out-and now!” (Golding 91)

-Piggy is directing this to everyone; they are losing their ties to society
-Piggy is trying to unite the boys and to keep them going
- Jack is ignoring Ralph's orders; he is not respecting him
- The others are showing their disrespect towards Ralph by ignoring the conch rule (whoever holds the conch gets to speak), because Ralph is the one who created it
- Loss of respect in the Conch (civility) and Ralph

PIggy is directing this quote towards all of the boys.  He sees how they are losing their ties to society, and is trying to make them realize they are more than just savages.  He is also trying to help them see how immature the boys are acting.  He wants to unite the boys in an orderly fashion.  Jack on the other hand ignores both Piggy and Ralph, jealous of Ralph's authority, and jealous of Piggy's intelligence. He shows his disrespect towards the two boys by leading the other's away from civility. He teaches them to ignore the conch. This is relevant to their descent into savagery, as they begin to lose respect for order.

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“Conch! Conch! .. We don’t need the conch anymore. We know who oughta say things.” (Golding 101-102)

Throughout the book, Jack stays jealous and tries to control the whole group. The conch remains a symbol of order and respect in the book. When holding the conch, the others are to give their full undivided attention, only listening no talking back. The others must give the person holding the conch their respect. Jack however did not like this. He did not others to be treated equally and demanded to be treated with higher respect. The use of the conch was originated from Ralph. Due to Jack's jealousy and desire to be the best and the leader of the group, he wants to demolish the idea of using the conch. When Jack says that there should be no conch, he is demonstrating the act of falling into savagery. It portrays the idea that he thinks he is above all, greater than the rest, that no one's voice matters.

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“He discovered with a little fall of the heart that these were the conditions that he took as normal now and that he did not mind.” (Golding 110)

In this chapter, Ralph notices his appearance; him like the others are covered in dirt. However, the author noted that, "this he did not mind". This portrays the idea that him, along with the other boys had given up. He had lost respect from the boys and with that, he had lost his hope and optimism that he once had to leave the island. The new conditions included, hunting, talking over each other; fighting, and many more. They all had developed a sense of loneliness in a sea of people. Without a dominant leader who remained optimistic, the boys would loose their hopes and give up as well, when they are so close to the goal; escaping the island. Ralph had desired to return to a more civilized state, but with the other boys turning more and more savage by the minute, he finally gave in.

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"What they might become in the darkness, no one cared to think." (Golding 130)

In this stage of the book there is a clear realization of the savage mindset that the boys had. In the initial stages the majority of the boys were calm and respectful boys. While staying on the island they have come to sort of inhabit and islander mindset. The reason that there identity has changed, is because many of the boys now believe that they must be brave and strong while staying on the island. They feel as though if they are fearful they will be seen as weak by the other boys. This mindset is what leads the boys to do barbaric and almost inhuman acts. As seen with Jack he  enjoys hiding among the shadows and bearing face paint on his face. Behind the paint he feels invincible and not like Jack Merridew. Lastly, the immaturity of the boys believe and act like the island is a game. They find amusement in the brutal hunts and feel as though they are the authority. The reason that they are unrecognizable is because in the shadows they do things that they normally would not do. To them the shadows are a disguise from their true self, and it allows them to do things they never would of done.

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"The beast was harmless and horrible; and the news must reach the others as soon as possible." (Golding 147)

The symbolism present is how perception can lead to disaster if something is seen as of little  importance. With the introduction of the beast, many of the boys almost take it as a joke. They believed that the horrific stories stated by the littluns was no more then a tall tale. The importance here is that the idea of the beast has led the boys to do unimaginable acts. Ralph is seen to be very fearful of what the boys are capable of. He realizes that the boys that arrived on the island are no longer who they were. They have turned into savage boys that will kill and harm anything simply because they are fearful. Much like a tyrant, Jack uses fear to lead. He creates terror by giving everyone a reminder of what the beast is capable of.   Ralph  has always led in a civil manner. He used logic and brought a great idea of hope to the boys. The idea of the beast being both ¨horrible and harmless¨, made the boys do barbaric acts out of fear. In this is what leads to the loss of civility among the boys.

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"Piggy eyed the advancing figure carefully ... but even through the good eye ... Ralph remained unmistakably Ralph." (Golding 155)

So much has happened since the boys had found themselves on the island. Everyone has changed in some sort of way and some do not even realize they have. Savagery has emerged throughout all of the boys in some sort of way, and caused some things to happen. The boys had been so paranoid of a beast on the island, that seeing a very rough looking Simon crawl out of the forest, they assumed it had been the beast in disguise causing them to beat him to his death. The next day reality hit some of the boys like a truck. The overwhelming memories of what had happened affected some of them majorly. In fact, Piggy was in complete denial that he was even there, and that it had happened. To him everyone was hiding in the shadows to conceal who they really were as savagery grew within them as they became unrecognizable. However, Piggy was always able to recognize Ralph because he was Piggy's safe person. The one who he went to for comfort and safety, who also agreed with him in tough situations. Ralph was the first person there to see if Piggy was okay when he was hurt. Piggy had been attacked by the other boys in the new tribe, and Ralph rushed over to help him and make sure he was okay. They stole Piggy's glasses, and he was worried more about Piggy then he was about them taking what they used to start their fires.

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"I'll show him the one thing he hasn't got." (Golding 171)

Throughout the book anyone can see that Jack wants to be some type of leader to the others. He also gets mad or upset when someone taunts him or his ideas. He has such a big ego that it infuriates him when someone does that. Ralph had trusted Piggy enough to let him borrow the conch, and try to be heard. Piggy was one of the few who had not changed as much as the others. The other boys had slowly become savages, and could care less about the conch and what it stood for. They lost all respect for it, which was shown when Piggy had died, and the conch was crushed to pieces with Piggy. After that happened, their old ways of living had been crushed, so savagery had fully compromised their minds. They saw anybody who was not in their new tribe as meat ready to hunt. They saw it as a way to improve their hunting skills, and ran after them to try and get them on their side, or even kill them. They talked about doing this to Ralph because he was the only one  who would not succumb to his savage side and the new tribe.

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"For a moment he had a fleeting picture of the strange glamour that had once invested the beaches. But the island was scorched up like dead wood – Simon was dead – and Jack had… The tears began to flow and sobs shook him." (Golding 202)

The boys have fully succumbed to their savage ways, hunting Ralph as if he was a pig.  Jack instructed the hunters to ban Ralph from his tribe.  THis was a decision fueled by anger, and jealousy.  He did not care if Ralph was killed, he "hated" jack.  Piggy knew this, and when he died, so did the conch.  The conch is a symbol of community and society.  Once it was broken, Jack no longer had to fear the boys leaving him.  He no longer had to fear Ralph.  He feared Ralph, and saw him as a threat.  Jack as said before, he eliminates his threats, and does his best to get rid of anything that challenges him.  He tried to hunt the beast because he was afraid of it, and he tried to kill Ralph, because Ralph was everything Jack wasn't.  It was fear that drove Jack to target Ralph, but it was also fear that made Ralph survive.  He fled and fought with all of his might to survive.  When the Naval Officer appeared in front of the boys, a direct being from civilization, it brought them great relief.  The timing was almost comical, their painted bodies charging after a bare, innocent boy.

They had been fully doused in savageness, acting like animals, and heathens.  They would have killed Ralph, but rescue and promise of safety was much stronger than barbarian instinct.  It brought back their humanity, forcing them to understand their situation. Ralph was overcome with glee, exhaustion and relief.  He no longer had to endure the demands of being an authority figure, or the negative remarks from Jack.  Ralph and the boys cry, the uncanny reality bringing peace and joy.