![]() ![]() Ralph is losing his innocence quickly, but gaining an understanding of natural processes not available to him in the sheltered society he came from. Realizing the difficulty of this lifestyle in contrast to its initial glamour, he "smiled jeeringly," as an adult might look back with cynicism on the ideals held as a youth. His growth is evident in his musings as he ponders matters more conceptual than he ever has before. Yet the crisis of the lost rescue opportunity spurs Ralph to grasp some new concepts, revelations following each other thick and fast as he makes his way to the platform and sits on the chief's log. Ralph's mental acumen is subject to the same decay as his clothing, frayed as both are by the rigors of the primitive life. Such a loss of verbal command bodes ill for Ralph and the community because his seat of authority is the platform, a symbol of the verbal communication and thoughtful debate. ![]() ![]() He is struggling to implement his agenda for the meeting and finds he is unable to control the assembly, which degenerates into a mob of "noise and excitement, scramblings, screams and laughter." He finds himself lost "in a maze of thoughts that were rendered vague by his lack of words to express them." This lack of mental clarity recalls Jack's difficulty in expressing himself described in Chapter 3. This chapter shows Ralph's skills of organization and governance starting to wane.
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