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The plane crashes on the island
This is how it all began. During an unnamed time of war, a plane carrying a group of British schoolboys is shot down over the Pacific. While the pilot of the plane is killed, the boys survive the crash. Ralph, who is among them, finds himself deserted on an uninhabited island with no adult supervision. Ralph meets Piggy during this time, and they discuss their situation. Ralph is optimistic, calm, confident, and seems to know what needs to be done to get rescued. -
The conch shell is blown
Ralph finds a conch shell, and he blows it in an attempt to summon any other boys on the island. The boys gather in their first meeting, and Ralph is elected chief, much to Jack's distaste. Ralph embodies his role as the order and civilization of the island. While most of the other boys are concerned with playing, having fun, and avoiding work, he sets about building huts, a signal fire, and thinking of ways to maximize their chances of being rescued. -
The "beast" is sighted
Rumors of a beast on the island begin to spread. Everyone starts to feel uneasy and scared, including Ralph, even though he thinks it does not exist. He sees that the boys are starting to lose trust in him, and his meetings are disintegrating quickly because they are losing interest. He feels like he wants to give up, but he doesn't; instead, he sums op the courage to look for the imaginary beast himself. It is at this time that Ralph starts to feel homesick. -
Piggy is killed
Piggy worked throughout the story to support Ralph, he was his right hand, and without him the boys would have been unable to survive a day on the island. Piggy's death is not only significant to the story, but also to Ralph. When the boulder smashes him, his glasses, and the conch shell, it symbolizes the end of any possibility of reason or rationality triumphing over chaos and fear. Ralph is left all alone, he becomes even more depressed. -
The naval officer arrives
n the end, while running for his life, Ralph collapses on the beach, where a naval officer arrived with his ship. As the realization of what had happened started to sink in, Ralph gives himself up at last, and starts to cry for the first time on the island. He weeps "for the end of innocence, the darkness of man's heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy" (Golding 225). His story ends semi-tragically.