Loss of Innocence

As the novel progresses the boys lose their innocence, as they change from civilized British schoolboys to the painted savages seen in later chapters. They go from hunting for their survival to hunting for pleasure. Hunting animals to hunting and killing humans. The character development of even the most civilized boy, changes dramatically because as their time on the island increases, the theme of savagery is promoted more and more. The loss of innocence is attributed to the fact that the natural savagery that exists among the boys and in all humans has been allowed to mature and develop.

The Beast

The idea of a beast was originally dreamt up by one of the littluns; however, the idea of the beast quickly consumed the minds of the older boys. The beast contrasts the conch as it represents the savagery that exists in all humans. As the boys become less civilized their conception of the idea that a beast exists becomes more and more realistic. Simon was the only boy who realized that the beast was not a living monster but rather something that already exists inside of them.

The Conch

The conch found by Ralph in the first chapter is significant because it acts as a dominant symbol throughout the novel. It is used to call meetings and it represents civilized order or the fact that the boys were currently at a more advanced social, cultural, and moral way of life. The holder of the conch possesses the right to speak at the meetings that occur, and as a result of this it regulates the meetings. The power of the conch allows the ideas or strategies of the group to be discussed in a just way.

The Value Of Persistence

"Persistence is an essential factor in the procedure of transmuting desire into its monetary equivalent. The basis of persistence is the power of will."

Hill refers to persistence as a "[A] sustained effort..." that is necessary to achieve goals. Upon reading this chapter one thing stuck in my mind and it is that you must be willing to persist and persevere despite any setbacks or hurdles in order to attain your goal, otherwise you will never achieve them. I thought about how this applied to anyone's life and came to the realization that "Without persistence, you [are] defeated, even before you start.".

Imagination - The workshop of the mind

"The imagination is literally the workshop wherein are fashioned all plans created by man. The impulse, the desire, is given shape, form, and action through the aid of the imaginative faculty of the mind."

I believe that a key factor to success in life is the ability to develop and use the imagination; which is why I found this chapter more interesting than others. Hill believes that desire, while very important, is only "... a thought, [or] an impulse." so the desire must be "...transformed into its physical counterpart." - the imagination. Imagination brings ideas and with these ideas comes the beginnings of all fortunes; ideas spark impulsive thought and action which is a product of the imagination.

"Ideas are intangible forces, but they have no more power than the physical brains that give birth to them. They have the power to live on, after the brain that creates them has returned to dust."

Desire

"Whatever the mind of a man can conceive and believe it can achieve."

Napolean Hill's belief of desire is that it is "The starting point of all achievement." and upon reading this chapter I strongly believe this as well. Wishing and hoping to be rich will not make you rich but rather having a desire to acquire your goals is what will bring you to accomplish these goals. Hill also professes that to accomplish this desire one will need a "definiteness of purpose.", and to me this means in order to harness the power of desire, you must first know exactly what you want. Reading this chapter made me realize that having a desire for something makes anything possible, and that desire will never accept failure as an option. Desire is "...the starting point from which a dreamer must take off.".

The Recovery of Identity

Frye's point regarding the loss and regaining of identity and its connection with literature was definitely a thought provoking concept. The idea that "... literature not only leads us toward the regaining of identity, but it also separates this state from its opposite, the world we don't like and want to get away from." Pg31 This immediately made me think of what allows people to stray from the aspects of the world that they dislike. I soon realized that there are very few outlets other than literature that allow a person to detach themselves from what they dislike about the world they live in, leaving me in concurrence with Frye.

Literature and Children

When I first read the line “Every child realizes that literature is taking him in a different direction from the immediately useful, and a good many children complain loudly about this.” (p.3), The way I interpreted Frye's point was that it meant that every child will react to literature in their own unique way; however, most will react the same way:by "[complaining] loudly about [it]." I agree with Frye's point because looking back and reflecting on my own personal experience with literature was that it did not send me in any immediately useful direction.