The subject’s name and the location spotted (page #);
What the subject says, thinks, feels, or does (or has done to it) (a “direct quote”)
What you think your observation reveals about the subject.
You should have AT LEAST one entry for every chapter in which your subject appears.
Page(s)
What subject says, thinks, feels, does, or experiences
What observation reveals about the subject
7-11
The subject has made contact with the boy known as Ralph.He has also suggested they attempt to gather all of the children together when he said, " I expect we'll want to know all their names... and make a list. We ought to have a
meeting." In addition he has also decided to trust Ralph by revealing to him that, "they used to call me 'Piggy'."
Observations show a remarkable capacity to trust, as he has confidedin Ralph after knowing him for a very short period of time. He also appears to believe in order and society as he has expressed a desire to assemble, a profound worry at the lack of adults, and the fate
of the pilot of their airplane.His appearance and demeanor, along
with his nickname, highly suggest a history of bullying, which may
be responsible for his manifest belief in the authority of the adults.
34
Piggy tells the boys, gasping for breath the entire time, that nobody knows that they are in the island and that there is no chance of immediate rescue.
Piggy's speech here reveals to us a number of things about Piggy. One, he is a bad public speaker, which shows that he is not a leader.
For example, Ralph or Jack, who are both leaders, have excellent
skills in public speaking. Another is that Piggy is realistic and logical.
Unlike Ralph, who believes that their rescue will be within a couple of
days, Piggy, through logical thinking, sees that the chances of this
happening is slim.
38
Piggy sees the kids chaotic flock to the mountain as
being very childish and foolish, saying "Acting like a crowd
of kids!" But like a good parent would do, he follows them
anyway.
This instance reveals to us that Piggy is a symbol of a mature, adult
figure. Here, like an adult, he judges the kids unorderly, wild behavior.
But, he, even though he doesn't want to join them, he sill does because
he wants to make sure that everything goes all right.
42
Piggy gets into a verbal fight with Jack, who doesn't let
Piggy speak when he has the conch.
In this scene, Piggy becomes very angry, to the point of losing his
temper, because Jack doesn't respect the rule of letting people speak
when they hold the conch. This shows that Piggy likes it when people
follow the rules and how he cannot stand when people do otherwise.
46
As he is gasping for breath and as the fire continues to
cause destruction, Piggy ridicules the boys for their
wild, uncivilized behavior and reveals to them that they lost
a boy.
This instance shows that Piggy is almost unable to handle disorder. As Piggy realizes that the destruction that is occurring around him,
he gasps for breath, almost as if he is having a heart attack. This reveals to us also that Piggy wouldn't make a good leader because of
his inability to handle chaos.
64
Piggy is the only boy on the island whose hair didn't grow
long.
The fact that Piggy's hair hasn't grown shows his maturity compared
to the other boys. Unlike the other boys who now have long hair (which
is a sign of vulgar and unsophistication), Piggy's hasn't, which shows
that Piggy is still connected to his old life of civility and order in England.
64
Piggy proposes to Ralph the idea of making sun dials.
Piggy, always thinking, comes up with the idea to build sun dials
so people will know at what time to do their jobs. This shows us
that Piggy is very smart (especially in the scientific sense) and how
he is eager to use his knowledge to better society.
65
Piggy rejoices when Ralph smiles at him, which is not
genuine.
Piggy's rejoicing shows that he cares about Ralph's approval, which also shows that he likes it when people value him and what he has
to offer.
70
Piggy cries when Ralph mentions that they could have been
rescued, but since the kids didn't keep the fire going, they weren't.
Piggy's crying shows that Piggy desperately wants to be rescued.
78
Littluns speak when Piggy has the conch, and he tells them to shut up.
This shows that Piggy is so disrespected by the group that even
the littluns, who would never show disrespect to a bigun, don't respect him. This proves that Piggy is the lowest member of this social
hierarchy.
84
Piggy, in his response to the existence of the beast, says
that there can't be a beast because "life is scientific." But
he does say that fear can exist if they fear something that
is real- people.
Piggy's explanation shows that he represents knowledge and logic,
esspecially in the scientific sense. And according to science, a beast
with claws and all can't exist. Thus, Piggy isn't afraid. But Piggy also admits that fear of imaginary things, like the beast, is foolish and
not real. But fear of things that do exist, like people, can be real. And
this idea that they might be afraid of people can be referring to how the boys fear Jack.
84
Piggy tells littluns to stay off the tree trunk because it can
roll, and they can fall off.
This shows that Piggy cares about the littluns and their well being. And
unlike anyone else on the island, he is the only one to care about the
littluns. In many ways, he is a parent figure to the littluns.
93-94
Piggy urges Ralph not to give up hope and to continue to be chief. He also says that if Jack was in charge, they would stay in the island till they died. He also says that if Ralph
steps down, no one will be there to protect him.
In this scene, Piggy is a true friend to Ralph by aiding him in his time of
need, telling him that he is doing a good job as being chief. But Piggy
also reveals some selfishness in his motivation because if Ralph steps
down, Piggy knows that no one would be able to protect him. So he
also wants Ralph to be chief for his own good.
101
Piggy forgets about the rule that one can speak only when one is holding the conch.
This proves that even though Piggy is doing the best not to be savaged
and continue to be civilized and proper (like things were back home in
England), the atmosphere has affected him, and he has broken the rules, showing that he is a little more savaged than when he first got
on the island.
102
During a struggle of power between Ralph and Jack, Piggy
starts gasping for breath, and nobody cares.
Piggy's gasping for breath here shows that he is unable to cope with
the tension that is going around him. He can't stand that savageness
is beating civility. And the fact that nobody cares continues to show that he is at the bottom of this social hierarchy and is separate from
the group.
Note: Piggy did not appear in Chapter 7: Shadows and Tall Trees
128
After Jack leaves, Piggy tells the group that they don't
need Jack, and now since he is gone, they can make real
progress.
Unlike Ralph and the other boys, Piggy is happy that Jack left, and he
is optimistic that Jack is gone. This is important because it shows that
Piggy is logical, and how he sees things without real emotion. Ralph,
for example, reacts emotionally to Jack's departure, which causes him
to be devastated. While on the other hand, Piggy looks at it logically and sees that Jack's departure is for the group's best interest.
129
Piggy lifts the conch and comes up with the idea of moving the fire to the beach.
Again, Piggy sees things logically (which no one else does) and that is
why he is able to come up with the brilliant yet simple idea of moving
the fire to the beach. And the fact that others listen to his idea show how Piggy has gained power in Jack's departure.
148
Piggy wishes that they could go home.
This shows how Piggy doesn't like the island and wishes to return to the
comfort of their old lives, which had civility and order.
149
At the feast, Piggy burns himself, and the boys laugh at
him, which causes everyone to feel "cheerful and normal."
This shows once again how Piggy is the scapegoat. And how the group feels united only when they scorn Piggy. The group becomes united
when they establish an "us group" and an "other group." And Piggy
is part of the other group. In reality, the group is defined as being everyone besides Piggy.
156-158
Piggy explains that Simon's death was a horrible accident
that was no one's fault. He then denies that they were
a part of the dance at all.
Unlike Ralph who feels guilty because of Simon's death, Piggy does
not feel guilty through rationalizing the whole episode, saying that it
was dark, they were scared, and that there is a likely possibility that they weren't not even in the dance to begin with. This shows once again, how Piggy represents the logical, rational part of everyone, unlike Ralph who represents the emotional aspect.
163
Piggy reminds the the boys, including Ralph, that the
purpose of the fire is to send a smoke signal, so they
can be rescued.
At this point of the novel, everyone, even Ralph, have forgotten about
their desire to go back to their old lives. But Piggy doesn't, and he reminds them. This shows the little effect that the island has on Piggy
compared to the other boys. This is also shown with Piggy's hair
not growing.
171
Angry about Jack taking his glasses, Piggy confidently
says that he is going to stand up to Jack and tell him
to give him his glasses back.
For the first time, Piggy has gained the confidence to stand up to Jack.
This is so because Piggy, being a proponent for order and civility, sees
that disorder and savagery are taking over, and he feels that it is time
to put that to an end. But Piggy is also being surprisingly unrealistic,
thinking that Jack is just going to hand over the glasses.
180
Piggy holds the conch above his head and addresses
everyone. He tells them that it is better to be sensible and
orderly, than disorderly and savagery. The crowd of boys
though don't listen, and their uproar doesn't allow Piggy to
finish.
This is Piggy's final attempt to bring back order and civility. In a feeble yet gallant attempt, Piggy tries to sway the boys to realize the silliness
of their actions and return to old ways. But it is too late for that, the boys have become savages, and that is why they don't listen to Piggy and openly scorn him.
181
While Piggy holds the conch above his head, a rock hits him, destroying the conch and killing Piggy.
With the destruction of the conch and Piggy, all sense of order has been lost, and in the battle between savagery and civility, savagery
has won. Throughout the novel, Piggy, being logical and sensible,
upholds civility and order, and he always tries to preserve it. But,
civility and sensibility can't exist in a society of savagery, and that is
why Piggy dies. He dies because he is remains a civilized person in
a society that has abandoned order and civility.
Subject PIGGY:
Use this chart to track your subject. Write:
meeting." In addition he has also decided to trust Ralph by revealing to him that, "they used to call me 'Piggy'."
of the pilot of their airplane.His appearance and demeanor, along
with his nickname, highly suggest a history of bullying, which may
be responsible for his manifest belief in the authority of the adults.
For example, Ralph or Jack, who are both leaders, have excellent
skills in public speaking. Another is that Piggy is realistic and logical.
Unlike Ralph, who believes that their rescue will be within a couple of
days, Piggy, through logical thinking, sees that the chances of this
happening is slim.
being very childish and foolish, saying "Acting like a crowd
of kids!" But like a good parent would do, he follows them
anyway.
figure. Here, like an adult, he judges the kids unorderly, wild behavior.
But, he, even though he doesn't want to join them, he sill does because
he wants to make sure that everything goes all right.
Piggy speak when he has the conch.
temper, because Jack doesn't respect the rule of letting people speak
when they hold the conch. This shows that Piggy likes it when people
follow the rules and how he cannot stand when people do otherwise.
cause destruction, Piggy ridicules the boys for their
wild, uncivilized behavior and reveals to them that they lost
a boy.
he gasps for breath, almost as if he is having a heart attack. This reveals to us also that Piggy wouldn't make a good leader because of
his inability to handle chaos.
long.
to the other boys. Unlike the other boys who now have long hair (which
is a sign of vulgar and unsophistication), Piggy's hasn't, which shows
that Piggy is still connected to his old life of civility and order in England.
so people will know at what time to do their jobs. This shows us
that Piggy is very smart (especially in the scientific sense) and how
he is eager to use his knowledge to better society.
genuine.
to offer.
rescued, but since the kids didn't keep the fire going, they weren't.
the littluns, who would never show disrespect to a bigun, don't respect him. This proves that Piggy is the lowest member of this social
hierarchy.
that there can't be a beast because "life is scientific." But
he does say that fear can exist if they fear something that
is real- people.
esspecially in the scientific sense. And according to science, a beast
with claws and all can't exist. Thus, Piggy isn't afraid. But Piggy also admits that fear of imaginary things, like the beast, is foolish and
not real. But fear of things that do exist, like people, can be real. And
this idea that they might be afraid of people can be referring to how the boys fear Jack.
roll, and they can fall off.
unlike anyone else on the island, he is the only one to care about the
littluns. In many ways, he is a parent figure to the littluns.
steps down, no one will be there to protect him.
need, telling him that he is doing a good job as being chief. But Piggy
also reveals some selfishness in his motivation because if Ralph steps
down, Piggy knows that no one would be able to protect him. So he
also wants Ralph to be chief for his own good.
and continue to be civilized and proper (like things were back home in
England), the atmosphere has affected him, and he has broken the rules, showing that he is a little more savaged than when he first got
on the island.
starts gasping for breath, and nobody cares.
the tension that is going around him. He can't stand that savageness
is beating civility. And the fact that nobody cares continues to show that he is at the bottom of this social hierarchy and is separate from
the group.
need Jack, and now since he is gone, they can make real
progress.
is optimistic that Jack is gone. This is important because it shows that
Piggy is logical, and how he sees things without real emotion. Ralph,
for example, reacts emotionally to Jack's departure, which causes him
to be devastated. While on the other hand, Piggy looks at it logically and sees that Jack's departure is for the group's best interest.
why he is able to come up with the brilliant yet simple idea of moving
the fire to the beach. And the fact that others listen to his idea show how Piggy has gained power in Jack's departure.
comfort of their old lives, which had civility and order.
him, which causes everyone to feel "cheerful and normal."
when they establish an "us group" and an "other group." And Piggy
is part of the other group. In reality, the group is defined as being everyone besides Piggy.
that was no one's fault. He then denies that they were
a part of the dance at all.
not feel guilty through rationalizing the whole episode, saying that it
was dark, they were scared, and that there is a likely possibility that they weren't not even in the dance to begin with. This shows once again, how Piggy represents the logical, rational part of everyone, unlike Ralph who represents the emotional aspect.
purpose of the fire is to send a smoke signal, so they
can be rescued.
their desire to go back to their old lives. But Piggy doesn't, and he reminds them. This shows the little effect that the island has on Piggy
compared to the other boys. This is also shown with Piggy's hair
not growing.
says that he is going to stand up to Jack and tell him
to give him his glasses back.
This is so because Piggy, being a proponent for order and civility, sees
that disorder and savagery are taking over, and he feels that it is time
to put that to an end. But Piggy is also being surprisingly unrealistic,
thinking that Jack is just going to hand over the glasses.
everyone. He tells them that it is better to be sensible and
orderly, than disorderly and savagery. The crowd of boys
though don't listen, and their uproar doesn't allow Piggy to
finish.
of their actions and return to old ways. But it is too late for that, the boys have become savages, and that is why they don't listen to Piggy and openly scorn him.
has won. Throughout the novel, Piggy, being logical and sensible,
upholds civility and order, and he always tries to preserve it. But,
civility and sensibility can't exist in a society of savagery, and that is
why Piggy dies. He dies because he is remains a civilized person in
a society that has abandoned order and civility.