4 William Golding Quotes on Fear

William Golding quotes on fear

11. Either the wandering breezes or perhaps the decline of the sun allowed a little coolness to lie under the trees. The boys felt it and stirred restlessly. 'You couldn't have a beastie, a snake-thing, on an island this size,' Ralph explained kindly. 'You only get them in big countries, like Africa, or India.' Murmur; and the grave nodding of heads. 'He says the beastie came in the dark.' 'Then he couldn't see it!' Laughter and cheers. 'Did you hear that? Says he saw the thing in the dark-' 'He still says he saw the beastie. It came and went away again an' came back and wanted to eat him.' 'He was dreaming.' Laughing, Ralph looked for confirmation round the ring of faces. The older boys agreed; but here and there among the little ones was the doubt that required more than rational assurance. 'He must have had a nightmare. Stumbling about among all those creepers.' More grave nodding. They knew about nightmares. 'He says he saw the beastie, the snake-thing, and will it come back tonight?' 'But there isn't a beastie!' 'He says in the morning it turned into them things like ropes in the trees and hung in the branches. He says will it come back again tonight?' 'But there isn't a beastie!' There was no laughter at all now and more grave watching. Ralph pushed both hands through his hair and looked at the little boy in mixed amusement and exasperation.

21. 'I'm scared of him [Jack],' said Piggy, 'and that's why I know him. If you're scared of someone you hate him but you can't stop thinking about him. You kid yourself he's alright really, an' then when you see him again; it's like asthma an' you can't breath. I tell you what. He hates you too, Ralph -' 'Me? Why me?' 'I dunno. You got him over the fire; an' you're chief an' he isn't.' 'But he's Jack Merridew!' 'I been in bed so much I done some thinking. I know about people. I know about me. And him. He can't hurt you: but if you're standing out of the way he'd hurt the next thing. And that's me.' [Simon?] 'Piggy's right, Ralph. There's you and Jack. Go on being chief.'

26. Simon's head was tilted slightly up. His eyes could not break away and the Lord of the Flies hung in space before him. 'What are you doing out here all alone? Aren't you afraid of me?' Simon shook. 'There isn't anyone to help you. Only me. And I'm the Beast.' Simon's mouth labored, brought forth audible words. 'Pig's head on a stick.' 'Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill! You knew, didn't you?' said the head. For a moment or two the forest and all the other dimly appreciated places echoed with the parody of laughter. 'You knew, didn't you? I'm part of you? Close, close, close! I'm the reason why it's no go? Why things are what they are?'

27. 'Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood! Do him in!'