8. (analysis of negative foreshadowing in Chapter 2 of Lord of the Flies)

It is in this chapter that we can really start to observe negative aspects of the situation other than the fact that the boys are stranded on the island.  Chapter one mainly outlined the joys of the island and the discovery of its aspects.  In chapter two, conflict and internal group fear begin to set in.  Early in the chapter, a "little 'un" tells of his experience with the beastie the night before.  In all likelihood, there is no beastie, and Ralph certainly makes that clear, but there really are things to fear on the island, particularly a fear of the unknown, and this beastie really is a physical embodiment of the fear closing in on the smaller children.  Also in this chapter, Ralph's leadership is in question, and the impulsiveness of the boys bites them.  When the boys set out to make a fire, any number of things are left entirely unconsidered.  First of all, they originally have no means of lighting the fire, and once they manage to get it lit, they forget about the original purpose of the fire, which was smoke, and they then proceed to let the fire burn out of control.  All of this leads to a public confrontation between Piggy and the two societal leaders (Jack and Ralph), and the discovery that the very child who posited the existence of a beastie is found missing.  It is at this moment, fresh out of a comedy of errors, that the boys realize that the island might not be so perfect after all.