This book affected me on so many different levels. It had me thinking of bullies on the playground when I was young. I went to a small private school with a sixth grade graduating class of 10 kids. We had our own Jack Merridew of sorts and even now as an adult, I'm grateful that I haven't seen him again. It had me thinking of working in an office where executives making rash decisions and holding all of the power, pit co-workers against those who have visions of improvement or greater good that don't align with management's selfish rule. It had me thinking of terror organizations recruiting people using their bloodthirsty tactics and propaganda. 
 Lord of the Flies is a brilliant study of human behavior and survival. Setting the book on an abandoned island populated by young boys allows the story to play out in hyper-effect. You have innocent children (for the most part) flung into a situation where there are no adults, no rules and possibly no salvation. Had the story involved adults, we wouldn't have been able to see as well the pure instinct and struggle that each of these boys face. 
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 It is also interesting to me that the most dangerous elements of the island are not the animals, poisonous plants or volatile atmosphere, but two boys, who either by birth or personal experiences, turn into the beasts that everyone fears are stalking them in the night. It is also interesting how quickly their "hunt" at the end of the book fizzles out on the arrival of an adult and authority figure. It makes me wonder if Jack and Ralph can be kept in check back in the real world or if they would have eventually grown into the monsters they became on the island. 
 I do feel badly for both Simon and Piggy. Both of these boys spoke their minds even though it was unpopular and controversial. I think Piggy might have been his own worst enemy in some ways. He just couldn't help provoking Jack in what I thought was a play to receive Ralph's acceptance / protection. And on a side note, as a glasses wearer, his struggle really hit home for me. Their deaths do not seem to play too much of role in the story, except to signal to the reader that there is no turning back for the "savages". 
 I feel for Ralph as well. I think he did originally believe in his quest to keep the smoke signal going. After a while though, I wondered if he recognized how rotten Jack was becoming or at least realized that Jack was looking no further than his next kill. Ralph definitely became a reluctant leader after a while and without the aid of Simon and Piggy, may have joined Jack's group after all. I like to think that he wouldn't have. 
 I wish the younger boys had been better taken care of. They slept on their own, were left to their own devices and were told to shut up when they were scared. I was truly in fear for them, especially when that disgusting creep Roger made himself known. I wondered if it might have been him "haunting" those kids in the night. 
 The fact that they were "saved" at the end of the book did not bring me much comfort. I imagine all of them would have some serious issues to deal with when they return home. Only the little ones may have been spared, as they might have had a chance to forget. I will not forget this book though. A great read. 
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