Friday, September 29, 2017

What does Jack suggest as a way to keep the beast happy?

In chapter 10, the boys wonder how they might kill the beast. Jack responds by suggesting that they "leave the mountain alone ... and give it the head if you go hunting.” The instruction to "leave the mountain alone" is probably intended more for their own safety than to keep the beast happy, but, nonetheless, this might be one way to keep it happy. The mountain is very much the beast's territory, and like many a wild animal, the beast will become hostile to anyone who invades.
The more explicit suggestion that Jack makes, however, to keep the beast happy, is to "give it the head." The idea here is to give the sow's head as a kind of sacrifice, or offering to the beast. Such animal sacrifices have long been a feature of many religions, and the sacrifice is usually presented to appease, or demonstrate subservience before a god. This is exactly what Jack hopes to achieve with the offering of the pig's head. He wants to appease the anger of the beast and at the same time acknowledge his subservience to the beast.

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