Butterfly Revolution/ Lord of the Flies

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An example of how power has a corruptive nature is how Hitler got many people to commit horrible acts because of his power. Hitler not only used his power to do this, but gave other people power to do his dirty work as well. In The Butterfly Revolution Frank Reilly holds the power and is the authority after he takes over the camp. It became too much for just him and his partner Stanley Run so they gave a little bit or power to other people. One person who was given some power was the main character Winston When.

Winston was corrupted by power just like how Frank Reilly and Stanley Run were too. Frank was the one to cause When to be corrupted. Reilly was corrupted because he wanted more power. He did not just want to be in control of Low Pines and High Pines, but maybe the whole country. Frank wanted to start a real revolution. Although, a revolution was not even his idea it was Stanley. It did not directly say that that was Franks intentions, but you can infer that it was “… Wonder if he could make this game into a real revolution which might accomplish something’ (Butler 213).

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With this quotation even Winston thought that Reilly wanted a real revolution. Winston was not corrupted employee because he did come to senses of what he was doing and that it was not just a game anymore. He was corrupted because he thought that what he was doing by being “chairman of the propaganda committee” (216) he was helping keep the fun going. Also, Winston thought by collecting money, taking down the flag, and getting the information from Wellbeing he was helping out too. When might not have been completely corrupted, but he was corrupted to a point.

Another reason how power’s corruptive nature came up in The Butterfly Revolution is how George Merited was voted as cabin leader and got corrupted by power by being in charge. George started making rules for his cabin to follow that were quite stupid. Some people can handle power, while other people cannot. Power is a hard thing to grasp and has a corruptive nature to it. The corruptive nature of power is seen throughout history. With power comes responsibility and children usually cannot grasp that concept. In Lord of the Flies a group of school children evacuating and their plane crashed.

All the grownups are gone and the oldest child is around twelve years old. “Aren’t there any grownups? ‘ (Gilding 21). When the children realize that there are no adults they chose a leader. They chose Ralph as the chief because he had a conch shell and blew it to bring everyone together. Jack did not like this. He wanted to be chief and was disappointed that he was not chosen. Eventually as the story progresses Jack becomes so obsessed with becoming chief that he breaks away from Rally’s group and creates his own tribe. Rally’s main goal as chief is to keep a fire going to signal to passing ships so they can be rescued from the island.

Jack’s main goal was to hunt and get meat to eat. The children with Ralph were not having fun so they went to Jack’s tribe so they could play hunting. Only three people were left with Ralph. They were Piggy, Sam and Eric. With Jack’s tribe and him as chief they ended up killing Piggy and Simon. Jack became a savage along with everyone who followed him. They lost sight of things. Real tried justifying them. “No. They’re not as bad as that. It was an accident” (Gilding 184). He tried to by saying it was an accident, but truthfully it was not an accident. Being in charge and having power corrupted Jack.

Power also corrupted Roger too. Piggy kept Real in line. He did not let Real lose sight of what he was trying to achieve. Roger was cruel. When, Jack’s tribe captured Eric and Sam Roger who was a follower of Jack beat them until they joined. He also deliberately pulled they lever to let go over the boulder and that boulder killed Piggy. Jack and Roger were also corrupted because they began to hunt Real down. They chased after Real like they would a pig and they were planning on killing him too. Power was too much for these children to handle. It set them against each other and with that people died.

Death could have been prevented, but power has a corruptive nature causing them to lose sight of their mutual bonding and putting them against each other. Entry 2 Setting plays a huge role in plot development. If there are woods as the setting then you know that there will be trees and such in the story and somehow those trees will be mentioned for some reason or another in the Story thus thickening the plot. The Butterfly Revolution takes place at a summer camp for the majority of the story. There is a camp for boys, High Pines and a camp for the girls, Low Pines.

The two camps are close together making it easy access to get from one camp to the other, which plays a role in the plot of the book. It plays a role in the plot because after Frank Reilly, deader of the revolution; takes over High Pines he then wants to take over the girls camp too. ” go out the front of the camp and down the road to the place where you enter the girls’ camp”(Butter 59). That quote clearly states that the girls’ camp is quite close to the boys’ camp. That makes it easier for the girls and guys to go back and forth communicating with each other. The only thing that makes it difficult to get to the girls’ camp is the woods. It was terribly long way and through the bushes and around hilly paths” (59). That quote states that it takes a long time to the girls camp through the woods. Before Frank Reilly started the revolution the boys could only get to the girls camp through the woods because they were not allowed over there. If they were caught going over to the girls’ camp they would be expelled from camp. That is actually how the whole revolution got started in the first place because Manuel Rival was caught going to the girls’ camp and was going to get expelled from camp. The girls’ camp plays another huge role to plot development.

Another, way the setting impacts plot development is how the camps’ distance from the town. The distance keeps anyone from Wellbeing from suspecting anything being amiss. Since there is no suspicion the revolution goes on for eighteen days. Lastly, the camps only had a few entrances and exits. Since the only had a few it made it easier for Reilly to place people to guard it so no one can leave the camp. With no one able to leave it also impacts the plot because it helped make the revolution continue longer. Also, if someone tried to leave they would get thrown into the big. Don Angers tried leaving camp and got caught.

He was than thrown into the brig even though he was not sure if he was going to tell anyone or not. Setting can either make a small or huge impact on plot development pending on how you look at it. All stories have a setting. Without a setting there would be no story. Setting has an impact on plot development. The reason it has an impact because without an elaborate setting it would boring. If a story only had a setting of just one room there would not be much excitement to happen and little plot development would happen. The Lord of the Flies setting consists of an uninhabited island.

Throughout the story they children explore it. Since no one is on the island, but them it is quite a mystery of what the island contains. That part of the setting impacts plot development. The beach in the story impacts plot development because lots events occur there. At the beach are where their shelters are and also where everyone gathers to and assembly to talk about what they have to do. Also at the beach is where everyone meets the first time. “By the time Ralph finished blowing the conch the platform was crowded” (Gilding 32). The platform is also at the beach.

When Ralph blows the conch everyone comes because they know there is going to be a meeting. Another setting that impacts the plot development is the forest. The forest contained a massive amount of thicket. Thicket played a role in plot velveteen because that is where Ralph hid whenever Jack’s tribe was after him. “… Worming his way into the thicket… ” (191). In the thicket Ralph was confident he would not be found, but he was wrong. Also, it plays a role because Jack’s tribe catches the thicket on fire which causes the whole forest to catch on fire with a whole bunch of smoke.

A passing by boat sees the smoke and comes to rescue the boys. Another way the forest impacted the plot was because it also contain fruit trees and other source of food. Pigs were found in the forest which also played a role in plot development, but so id the fruit. It was their only source of food on the island. The mountain in the Story also played a part plot development because a couple of events happened. First off that is where the signal fire was located until a beast appeared then the signal fire was moved to the beach. Jack’s tribe was located in a cave in the mountain.

Where Jack’s tribe is located let them have the advantage by being able to defend themselves. Also the mountain is where Eric and Sam are frightened and chased by the beast. Jack and Real also see the beast on top of the mountain too. William Gilding was brilliant reading the setting the way he did because he made it possible for so much action to happen. Entry 3 When people think of symbols they think of a picture that represents something. For example a recycle symbol means that whatever it is on it can be recycled. Books are loaded with symbols.

The Butterfly Revolution contains quite a few symbols throughout the book. Some examples for them are the bear flag. The bear flag was taken down by Winston When, the main character and narrator of the story. By the bear flag being taken down it represents the start of the revolution of High Pines. It meant that the adults were no longer in control. The boys were. Also, the reason why When took the flag down was to keep the younger boys calm and make it seem lie it was just a fun game. Leave them with the idea we were having a good game of revolutionary capture the 73).

It Was Yen’s job to make the younger boys think that it was just a fun game. Another symbol in the book was the butterflies. The butterflies symbolized humanity. As the revolution progressed everyone was slowly losing their humanity. The girls wanted to kill John Mason because he had harmed them. Then, towards the end of the kook they actually the girls killed Don Angers because they said he was the actual person who harmed them not John Mason, but that was a lie. The girls killed Don without a proper trial and they threatened Paul Indian because Frank did not hand over Don right away. Arils told Frank to let them have Don Angers or they would take Paul Instead… ” (202). Frank gave the girls Don to save Paul. A strong structure in life keeps people’s humanity, but when there is a shaky structured life like how the campers had in the book then people begin to lose their humanity and became savages. The next symbol in he book is Yen’s books. When brought his books to camp with him, which included his bible, Herodotus, his political philosophers’ book, and his dictionary. The books symbolize Yen’s intelligence. His intelligence is also what gets him in trouble.

Frank Reilly chooses When to be the chairman of the propaganda committee because of how smart he is. Also, the police believe that When is “worse than anybody’ (216) because he was the chairman of the propaganda committee. Symbols help make people think more in-depth about the messages in books. Symbols symbolize different things. They can be found anywhere. The Lord of the Flies contains quite a few symbols. Probably the most obvious and major symbol in the book is the conch shell. In the story the conch symbolizes leadership. When Ralph first got to the beach he found the conch shell with Piggy.

Ralph blew it and the children came out of woods and from other ends of the beach to meet up. After they all gathered they chose a chief and it was Ralph. “Him with the shell” (Gilding 22). The children chose Ralph because he was holding the shell and the one who called the meeting. “Let him be chief with the trumpet-thing” (22). Not only does the conch represent he chief but also when someone could talk during an assembly. Although at assemblies it usually got out of hand. Ralph was able to quiet them most of the time because he was holding the conch and it silenced everyone. “… Held up the conch for silence” (23).

At the end of the book when the conch is shattered into pieces and symbolizes that everything is out of hand and chaotic. Another symbol in The Lord of the Flies is Piggy’s glasses. His glasses symbolized fire and their only hope to being rescued. On the island the only thing that they could start a fire with was Piggy’s glasses. “His specs- use them s burning glass” (40). They had no matches and failed at trying to rub two sticks together. They needed Piggy’s glasses to get rescued. The main reason they had a fire was to get rescued by having a signal fire. The importance of the glasses was huge.

Jack even stole Piggy’s glasses off is face in the middle of the night because of how important they were. He stole them so he could be in control and be chief because it symbolized that he was in control Of starting the fire. Piggy’s glasses made them hopeful and when Jack stole them from Rally’s group and it made them seem like there was no niceness in the world. Symbols help explain things that are sometimes too complex to understand at first. They help things stick out and simplify them. Without symbols in a story it would get kind of boring without those kinds of details to help make things pop out.

Entry 4 When it comes to types of characters there are usually three types leader, follower, and victim. In The Butterfly Revolution all three of the character types are present. Every kind of organization needs a leader. Leaders consist of many qualities. A few of those qualities are intelligence, communication skills, and keeps their main goal in focus. Frank Reilly is classified as the deader. He is intelligent person. Unlike other boys at the camp he likes to read books. “l like books, too, kid” (Butler 65). He even asked for Yen’s dictionary so that he could show everyone that he was right about a definition of a word.

Also, Frank uses his intelligence to gain control of both High Pines and Low Pines. His communication skills also help him become the leader because he is able to convince people to do things he wants. The reason he is able to that is because Frank makes promise that he promises to keep and he rewards them. “Let them know there will be little rewards all along the way or good service” (131). Frank always tries to keep his goal of having fun in mind. He periodically held parties for the campers to go and have fun at. Reilly was a good leader in some sense until everything goes chaotic.

Followers do not exactly do anything for themselves they usually end up following whatever their leader does. When was somewhat of a follower. He did whatever Frank asked him to do. It might have been out of fear, but he still followed Frank until things started going wrong and he was trying to shift into the leader position. Another follower in The Butterfly Revolution is Howard, Yen’s older brother. Howard followed what Frank said to do just like all the other campers did. Jerome Blackbirder can also be classified as a follower. He was the head of police at the camps and did whatever Frank asked him to do.

If Frank wanted someone arrested then Jerome arrested them. Without followers there would be no society. The final character type is a victim. A victim is a person who is harmed by others while being innocent. The victim the book is Don Angers. Don wanted nothing to with the revolution. He turned down Yen’s offer to join his propaganda committee. All he wanted to do was leave. While trying, he was captured by Franks people and thrown into the brig. Later on he was killed by girls at Low Pines because they wrongly accused him of the crimes that John Mason committed.

Don was innocent and he died because of Frank. He was a victim and should not have died. Characters make up a story. Without characters and character types there would be no story. Leaders come in every shape and sizes. The only similarities are that they are in control of a group of people. The leaders in The Lord of the Flies are Real and Jack. In the beginning of the story Ralph was chosen as the chief. He as chosen because he held the conch shell and was voted in. His main goal as chief was to get rescued. Smoke was the only way they would be rescued.

Ralph wanted to make sure the fire never went out because if a passing ship would pass they would see it and come to their rescue. That was not Jack’s plan though. Maybe at first, but then he lost his humanity and was consumed with the idea of being the leader and hunting. Real and Jack fought a couple times throughout the book. Jack wanted to be the leader in the beginning of the story, but lost to Ralph. Jack then later on seized the role of being the deader when all the boys except for Piggy and Ralph followed him. In the end Ralph was the true leader. “Who’s the boss her? ” (Gilding 201).

That is what one of the guys that rescued him asked the group of children. Ralph answered by saying “I am” (201). No one objected when Ralph to the guy rescuing them that. Jack just stood there. So in the end even though Jack tried taking Rally’s position of chief Ralph remained the true leader. Followers are what make up a civilization. They are also a character type along with leader and victim. The followers in Lord of the Flies consist of the little children that age around six years old. They come when they are called and they followed Jack when he said he was more fun.

Another follower in the book is Sam and Eric. They follow what Ralph asks them to do. Also when Jack captures Sam and Eric they at first oppose to the idea then they join him when they are hunting Ralph. Without people to follow the leader would end up standing alone. Victims are the last character type. In the story Piggy and Simon are the victims. They are killed. Simon becomes a victim whenever he comes from the woods and they think he is the beast. All Simon was trying to do is tell them that he found a dead body. Piggy is the other victim because the boys looked down on him because he was smart.

Also they looked down on him because he wore glasses while no one else did and because he was overweight. Piggy is told to shut up and the boys do not listen to him because he is different from them. Roger later on killed him. Simon was a victim of misjudgment and Piggy was a victim of mental abuse. Character types are found throughout all books. Characters make up a story. Entry 5 In both The Butterfly Revolution and Lord of the Flies share common similarities. They also have common rhetorical devices as well. On rhetorical vice that they share is mood. In Lord of the Flies the mood is calm and easy going at first.

As the story progresses the mood intensifies. Jack and Ralph both start fighting. Jack starts to lose his humanity. After the boat passes them because the fire went out and smoke was not visible the mood intensifies. “They let the bloody fire go out” (Gilding 68). Jack and his group of hunters let the fire go out because they were too busy hunting. This made Ralph furious because not only did they disobey him, but also missed a chance at getting rescued. The mood changes to frightening when Piggy is killed. Also when Jack’s tribe captures Sam and Eric. It changes because Jack and Roger decide to hunt Ralph like a pig.

This moment in the story Jack and his tribe are savages with no humanity left. The mood in The Butterfly Revolution is similar to Lord of the Flies. At the beginning of the story just like Lord of the Flies it is laid back and calm. It is a normal summer camp. There are camp activities like swimming and hiking. There are rules that the boys have to follow to keep their selves out of trouble. The mood quickly changes from calm and intensifies. It changes whenever Frank calls a meeting of the bin leaders and he tells the leaders about his and Stanley Rank’s plan about having a revolution.

Also another change in mood occurs after the takes over both camps. The mood is now exciting. After, when John Mason is killed the mood changes again. John is killed because John and Don were set up to fight each other. A gun was thrown in and Don grabbed it and shot. The camps are slowly becoming chaotic. At this point in the story the mood has become frightening. It is frightening because when the revolution ends the boys are being to think of the consequences of their actions. When Don Angers is killed another change in mood takes place.

Don is killed because the girls began saying that he was the one who actually harmed them and they wanted to kill him. That is exactly what they did too. The girls hung Don and did not even burry his body. When becomes angry and full of bitterness toward Frank Reilly and the girls. This changes the mood to angry. Then when the police come is when the last change in mood occurs. They come whenever Manuel Rival goes to Wellbeing and tells them what is going on at the camps. The mood then changes to relief because the revolution is finally over and the adults are in control.

Mood helps the reader feel like they are really feeling what is happening. Another rhetoric device that both books share is repetition. In Lord of the Flies the phrase “Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood! ” (Gilding 152) is repeated throughout the book. Jack and his hunters chant this when they have killed a pig. Also they chanted this right before they accidentally killed Simon. Another time they chanted the phrase is when Jack and his hunters reenacted how they killed the pig. In The Butterfly Revolution “fun” (Butler 65) is repeated throughout the book.

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