Children Peer Pressure

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I never knew how useful I would be to humans until the boys came to the island. I am not sure how they got here, but I know they arrived after a crashing sound. I could not see what made the noise or where it landed. I remember hearing two boys talking indistinctly. As the two approached, I was able to distinguish their names: Piggy and Ralph. When they recognized me, Ralph blew into me in an attempt to create sound. He struggled with this but eventually accomplished it.

Piggy suggested, “We should send a signal in case there are other boys on the island.”

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I did not know what to expect after he blew into me. A few moments later, boys began appearing from everywhere. The boys seemed scared and clueless about what they needed to do in order to be rescued.

This changed when Ralph mentioned creating a fire to send a smoke signal to ships that pass by the island. It seems as the others do not listen to Ralph’s full idea before they all run up the mountain to make a fire. They seem too excited about doing something for survival.

The boys seemed to know what is necessary to create a fire; however, they make a large fire that they cannot control. Ralph seems upset with the other boys because they did not use their resources wisely.

“We only needed a small fire! Not one that would burn up half of the island!” exclaimed Ralph.

Piggy realized someone was missing. “Guys, who is missing? It doesn’t look like we’re all here.”

All of the boys realize that the mulberry-faced kid is missing. He was the one who mentioned the beastie. Was it real? They said it wasn’t true to control their fears, but saying something does not justify its existence.

Everything went downhill from here. All of the disagreements caused the boys to separate, causing two groups. Jack’s group became savages and did not feel bad for murdering Simon. This made them feel as if they were superior and could survive on the island. Ralph’s group had a more humane way to survive on the island; they did not go hunting because they would eat the fruit.

Piggy and Ralph try to confront Jack’s group about their actions. Piggy cannot see because they stole his glasses to create fire. He seems scared.

“Ralph, please help me! I can’t see!”

Analysis

Peer pressure may not be obvious to one. One may simply believe that his or her friends are encouraging something that is popular or fun, but peer pressure can be a negative thing. People try to get others to attempt new things that could possibly hurt them. Children and teens are the biggest groups of people who give into peer pressure, especially when adults are not watching over them. People act different when an adult is not present to observe a child’s behaviour. Children could crave protection and attention from others.

The boys in Lord of the Flies do not have any adult supervision; this causes them to make poor decisions. Since they need a smoke signal, Jack and a handful of others rush to build a fire (Golding 38). Children become overly excited to do certain things. They do it improperly and do not think of the consequences. Children do not consider consequences when they have given into peer pressure or if an adult is not near. Most children do not know the necessities of survival and what to do in order to be rescued. The boys depended on each other for protection and assurance, but they could not get along to do this as a whole. “One patch touched a tree trunk and scrambled up like a bright squirrel. The smoke increased, sifted, rolled outwards. The squirrel leapt on the wings of the wind and clung to another standing tree, eating downward” (Golding 44). The boys did not know how many branches were necessary to make a small fire because most parents protect their children from fire. Also, the children were not capable of making proper decisions about their actions when there is no adult supervision to correct their wrongs.

In an attempt to control their fears, the boys in Lord of the Flies deny the beastie’s existence. It appears that the boys think if they say it enough, it is believable. “Fears are an inescapable part of being a kid” (“How to Help Children Manage Fears”). The boys were trying to control their fears, but it was truly inevitable. Children can become scared of anything: the dark, the bugs, or the monster under their beds. Without a parent to soothe them, children do not know how to manage their fears. Children depend on their parents or guardians to protect and assure them. The children crave protection, especially the littluns. They depend on the biguns for protection and food. “This fear of the unknown… has been with us always” (Genoways 132). The boys do not know if there really is a beastie right after the mulberry-faced boy mentions it. They try to argue that there cannot be a beast; they do this in an attempt to control their fears. They do not truly know if the beastie exists. The boys are afraid of the unknown, but they do not want to admit it. People can be scared of the unknown because there is no explanation or evidence to refute whatever it may be.

In conclusion, children crave protection because the boys did not know how to function without their parents being present. The boys in Lord of the Flies could not agree on their beliefs. Children also crave attention from each other. They all want to have their opinions heard. Piggy was hardly ever heard; Ralph was the only one to actually listen to him and his ideas. These boys serve as an example of how people will change when it comes to survival of the fittest.   

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