Post #10

Journal 9: Oct. 31, 2013

Select one character from chapter one and write about him in detail. Use two citations in your description. Write at least 8 sentences.

I choose Piggy. Piggy is a chubby kid with glasses. His age has yet to be directly stated, but it can be inferred that he is around the age of Ralph, which is 12. Piggy is a kind person, and he immediately tries to get to know Ralph and the other kids who show up later. This tells me that he is wise, as no one will survive the island alone, so he is trying to make ties and friends to increase his chances of survival. Piggy is also a cautious person. “Piggy took off his shoes and socks, arranged them carefully on the ledge, and tested the water with his toe” (Golding 11). I think Piggy is this way partly because both of his parents have dies, and Piggy is more aware than the others about how cruel the world is. He had to grow up earlier than most, and while Ralph is more reckless, Piggy has to stand back and measure the situation. Piggy is also a target for bullying on the island. “‘You’re talking too much,’ said Jack Merridew. ‘Shut up, Fatty’” (Golding 20). Even though Piggy is just trying to be friendly, the others are quite mean to him. Piggy knows he has to stay with this group, though, so he weathers the storm, and utilizes his tick of cleaning his glasses whenever he is embarrassed to hide his humiliation.