1A_fire

=Signal Fire=

At the end of the book, the giant bonfire that rages out of control ultimately attracts the attention of the adults. This is ironic because the original signal fire on the mountain failed. This giant bonfire represents the horrible machinations that happen inside a human's mind. In fact, the flames even give a picture of hell; giant flames, red glow, evil figure. Another thing is that the original fire was shown as a gentle, life-giving fire, but the second fire is shown as inherently evil, which destroys everything.
 * Vinson -**


 * Amrita D. (June 3rd, 2010)**- At the beginning of the book, fire represents hope and the chance of eventually returning home. However, as the story progresses three very issue of keeping a fire or attending others duties becomes a conflicting issue that drives the group apart. Ralph continues to advocate the importance of fire despite the changes everyone faces on the island. In the end, it is fire that gets them saved, which shows that like a fire, hope is hard to extinguish, but prolonging it can only result in eventual satisfaction of life.

[] "Any day there might be a ship out there" he [Ralph] waved his arm at the taut wire of the horizon- "and if we have a signal going they'll come and take us off." (Golding 42)
 * Michael C. - (May 29th,2010)**

Fire is a symbol of hope that illuminates in darker times. Either from religion or an ideology, hope is a necessary factor for society to continue functioning. In the book, fire is a sentiment to the hope of being rescued, something that Ralph focuses his entire goal upon. In an archetype scenario, fire is a vibrant, sensational desire that remains no matter how bleak the situation is. The fire's location is on a mountain top, where all the boys can see, similar to "a city on a hill". But hope can also be misled by individuals, in which Jack is doing. He takes the hope of rescue and twists into another vision of fun and joy. This picture of a sunrise alludes to the hope Ralph looks toward. In the quote, the fire is a signal to the horizon, where the smallest shape could be the ship that will save their lives.

Outside quote: "He who does not hope to win has already lost." Jose Olmedo.

Fire is not only a symbol of hope but it also symbolizes life and civilization. In historic terms, man without fire would most likely still be savages that rip raw flesh from the fresh prey with mighty jaws of an animal. Also, when on an deserted island fire and its smoke represents the signs of life and civilization, a good example would be a cop looking for an escapee in a forest/island, this cop would most likely search for any signs of fire/smoke that may give away the position of the escapee or confirm the existance of civilized beings. As the quote says, "If one gives up on hope then one gives up on life," in the case of the book, the fire would represent the hope and life would represent being rescued; if the kids give up on the fire, then they also give up on being rescued.
 * Kevin** **(June 3rd)-** "If one gives up on hope then one gives up on life ." Don't know who yet. Maybe by me. xP


 * Tracy** **(May 31st)**- '"There was a ship. Out there. You said you'd keep the fire going and you let it out!" He took a step toward Jack, who turned and faced him." (Golding 70)

The fire is the most important thing. Without the fire, we can't be rescued. I'd like to put on war-paint and be a savage. But we must keep the fire burning. The fire's the most important thing on the island, because, because-" (Golding 142) [] The fire is portrayed as the last remaining hope for the boys to return back to civilization. As the time passes, the boys gradually loses their morals and ethics in their new environment. Savagery is inevitable as the human condition leans towards it in times of distress.Fire parallels with the passion of the boys on the island. As more and more boys abandon the hope of getting rescue, the fire gradually dies. The fire was big and powerful at first because it was tended in shifts by different boys, but since there is now no hope is contained within the group of boys, all that remains is burnt branches.

[]

The fire in the story represents the desires of all the children to return to their society. However, as they become accustomed to life on the island, they lose sigh of their ultimate goal. When the children start to leave and ignore the fire, they are becoming more savage. Also, fire was one of the first tools discovered by mankind. The loss of the knowledge of fire on the island represents the de-evolution of the children. Also, the fire is lit by piggy's glasses.
 * Vinson** - "Everything I have learned about life can be summarized in three words: IT GOES ON." - Robert Frost



[|http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2191/2417164282_3cedc64029.jpg] (Fire can be in any form and at different places, just like how one can have hope under different situations and conditions.)
 * Vivian (June 1, 2010)**- "We got no fire on the mountain. But what's wrong with a fire down here? A fire could be built on them rocks. On the sand even. We'd make smoke just the same" (Golding 129).

From this quote, fire symbolizes that "hope" can be formed in many different way if one has a strong belief in it. By saying that fire can be formed down by the beach, it depicts that their hopes to civilization does not end as the fire up in the mountain ends. This quote shows the strong belief of the boys that it would increase their chance of being rescued by someone if they attempt to build fire elsewhere from the mountain, despite the disadvantages of building a signal fire by the beach, such as being further away from the forest. Though they know that the fire by the beach would not be as affective as the signal fire up in the mountain, they embrace a strong optimism that if they do not give up their faiths and hopes, then they would eventually be rescued.


 * Marlon**-"'Can't they see? Can't they understand? Without the smoke signal we'll die here? Look at that!'"(Golding 139).

Fire is shown to be the lasting oracle for their desires to be rescued. This quote exemplifies the desperation and sense of urgency as time passes on the island. The symbol of the smoke going out represents the children's loss of hope as well as the children's shift from civilization to a state of savagery.The signal fire represents the height of desire for the children to be rescued. The fire is in correlation to the children's sense of necessity. The fire was strong and powerful in the first parts of the story because it demonstrates the children's effort and initiative to their goal. As the story goes on, the fire deeply disintegrates. At this time, the children slowly loses their identities in civilization and transform into disillusioned savages. Also, the fire indicates their hope. Through the fire, the children strengthens their hope. As the children turn into savages, the hope burns out at the same time as the fire.]


 * Amrita D. (June 3, 2010)**- "Ralph tried to remember. There was something overwhelmingly good about a fire. Something overwhelmingly good (Golding 163)."



At this point in the book, Sam and Eric are arguing with Ralph over the importance of the fire. Obviously, this enrages Ralph, but when Eric directly asks Ralph about the use of the fire, Ralph realizes that the importance is not as apparent as it was before; Ralph himself cannot remember the importance. However, while he tries to come up with a reason, the fact that he tries and has a feeling that the fire is somewhat still important shows that despite the situation that he’s in, there's still hope. Ironically, throughout the book, Ralph has always advocated keeping the fire going at all costs because it was their only hope of getting the signal; for help out there (as in the worked). After days of disappointment, it has suddenly come to Ralph’s attention that he cannot conjure the importance of the fire like he once did. This shows that even the most optimistic for rescue, Ralph is no longer as optimistic and the deep passion he once had for the fire and being rescued is not as intense as it used to be.


 * Jonathan-** "There wasn't any smoke. Only flame" (Golding 42).

This is said when the children try to start a fire but fail to do so. This quote provides another example of how fire is portrayed as a symbol of hope. It shows how simple desire or wanting to do things does not give you the results you expect. Establishing a goal is just the beginning. In order to reach any goal and accomplish it you must have the desire and determination of reaching it by following it up with actions. The fire they were able to light up can be viewed as this common goal they all have. They all want to go back home and realize that the only way for them to get rescued is by hopefully, with the use of a fire, create some sort of signal that may attract a ship that just might happen to be passing by. In their case the smoke represents a possibility of getting rescued and without any actual collaboration their common goal can not be reached. Their first attempt in making a fire was unsuccessful not because what they were doing was wrong but rather because not enough work done by everyone was put in which means that their will power has increase to get the outcome they all want.