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The games of the beginning of the novel have a double function： they； first of all； reflect the child's attitude toward play as a temporary cessation from the activities imposed by the adult world； but； like the games played before the formation of civilization； they anticipate the ritual which reveals a developing society。 So the children move from voluntary play to ritual； from 〃only pretending〃 to reality； from representation or dramatization to identification。 The older strictures imposed by parents are soon forgotten…but every now and then a momentary remembrance of past prohibitions causes restraint。 One older child hides in order to throw stones at a younger one。
Yet there was a space around Henry； perhaps six yards in diameter； into which he dare not throw。 Here； invisible yet strong； was the taboo of the old life。 Round the squatting child was the protection of parents and school and policemen and the law （57）。
Jack hesitates when； searching for meat； he raises his knife to kill his first pig。
The pause was only long enough for them to understand what an enormity the downward stroke would be。 Then the piglet tore loose from the creepers and scurried into the undergrowth。 。 。 。
〃Why didn't you…？〃
They knew very well why he hadn't： because of the enormity of the knife descending and cutting into living flesh； because of the unbearable blood （27）。
The younger children first； then gradually the older ones； like primitives in the childhood of races； begin to people the darkness of night and forest with spirits and demons which had previously appeared only in their dreams or fairy tales。 Now there are no forting mothers to dispel the terrors of the unknown。 They externalize these fears into the figure of a 〃beast。〃 Once the word 〃beast〃 is mentioned； the menace of the irrational bees overt； name and thing bee one。 Simply to mention the dreaded creature is to incur its wrath。 At one critical council when the first munal feeling begins to disintegrate； Ralph cries； 〃If only they could send us something grown…up 。。。 a sign or something〃 （87）。 And a sign does e from the outside。 That night； unknown to the children； a plane is shot down and its pilot parachutes dead to earth and is caught in the rocks on the mountain。 It requires no more than the darkness of night together with the shadows of the forest vibrating in the signal fire to distort the tangled corpse with its expanding silk parachute into a demon that must be appeased。 Ironically； the fire of munication does touch this object of the grown…up world； only to foster superstition。 But the assurances of the civilized world provided by the nourishing and protective parents are no longer available。 Security in this new situation can only be achieved by establishing new rules； new rituals to reassert the cohesive…ness of the group。
During the first days the children； led by Jack； play at hunting。 But eventually the circle of the playground extends to the circle of the hunted and squealing pig seeking refuge which itself anticipates the circle of consecrated ground where the children perform the new rites of the kill。
The first hunt acplishes its purpose： the blood of the animals is spilled； the meat used for food。 But because Jack and his choir undertake this hunt； they desert the signal fire； the case of which is dictated by the mon…sense desire for rescue； it goes out and a ship passes the island。 Later the children re…enact the killing with one boy； Maurice； assuming the role of the pig running its frenzied circle。 The others chant in unison： 〃Kill the pig。 Cut her throat。 Bash her in。〃 At this dramatic representation each child is still aware that this is a display； a performance。 He is never 〃so beside himself that he loses consciousness of ordinary reality。〃10 Each time they re…enact the same event； however； their behavior bees more frenzied； more cruel； less like dramatization or imitation than identification。 The chant then bees； 〃Kill the beast。 Cut his throat。 Spill his blood。〃 It is as if the first event； the pig's actual death； is forgotten in the recesses of time； it is as if it happened so long ago that the children have lost track of their history on the island； facts are distorted； a new myth defines the primal act。 Real pig bees mythical beast to children for whom the forms of play have bee the rituals of a social order。
Jack's ascendancy over the group begins when the children's fears distort the natural objects around them： twigs
20 Ibid。； p。 14。
bee creepers； shadows bee demons。 I have already discussed the visual imagery suggesting jack's demonic function。 He serves as a physical manifestation of irrational forces。 After an indefinite passage of time； he appears almost dehumanized； his 〃nose only a few inches from the humid earth。〃 He is 〃dog…like〃 and proceeds forward 〃on all fours〃 into the 〃semi…darkness of the undergrowth。〃 His cloak and clothing have been shed。 Indeed； except for a 〃pair of tattered shorts held up by his knife…belt； he was naked。〃 His eyes seemed 〃bolting and nearly mad。〃 He has lost his ability to municate with Ralph as he had on the first day。 〃He tried to convey the pulsion to track down and kill that was swallowing him up〃 （46）。 〃They walked along； two continents of experience and feeling； unable to municate〃 （49）。 When Jack first explains to Ralph the necessity to disguise himself from the pigs he wants to hunt； he rubs his face with clay and charcoal。 At this point he assumes a mask； begins to dance； is finally freed from all the repressions of his past。 〃He capered toward Bill； and the mask was a thing on its own； behind which Jack hid； liberated from shame and self…consciousness〃 （58）。 At the moment of the dance the mask and Jack are one。 The first kill； as I have noted； follows the desertion of the signal fire and the conterminous passage of a possible rescue ship。 Jack； however； is still revelling in the knowledge that they have 〃outwitted a living thing； imposed their will upon it； taken away its life like a long and satisfying drink〃 （64）。 Note that the pig is here described as a 〃living thing〃 not as an animal； only if there is equality between victor and victim can there be significance in the triumph of one over the other。 Already he has begun to obliterate the distinction between animals and men； as do primitives； already he thinks in terms of the metaphor of a ritual drinking of blood； the efficacy of which depended on the drinker's assumption of his victim's strength and spirit。 Ralph and Piggy confront him with his defection of duty； his failure to behave like a responsible member of Western society。
The two boys faced each other。 There was the brilliant world of hunting； tactics； fierce exhilaration； skill； and there was the world of longing and baffled monsense。 Jack transferred the knife to his left hand and smudged blood over his forehead as he pushed down the plastered hair （65）。
Jack's unconscious gesture is a parody of the ritual of initiation in which the hunter's face is smeared with the blood of his first kill。 In the subsequent struggle one of the lenses of Piggy's spectacles is broken。 The dominance of reason is over； the voice of