Chapter 12: Cry of the Hunters

At the end of chapter 12 of "Lord Of the Flies", Ralph is left crying. He is crying because now they're finally being rescued, and hes thinking about all the awful things that have happened to them on that island. Even though Ralph tries hard to act tough in front of the other boys, this is a moment where he really just breaks down and shows his vulnerability. "The tears began to flow and sobs shook him. He gave himself up to them now for the first time on the island" (Golding 202). Sometimes when reading this book its easy to forget that these boys are just young kids, and they've been showing a strong face for a while, and now Ralph is showing that he has weaknesses. Through this, Golding reveals the message that although people may lose themselves and get out of touch with who they are, they will always carry with them some sense of morals.