The Conch

1. Brought everyone together in the beginning, and tore the group apart at the end.

1.1. His voice tailed off. The hands that held the conch shook. He cleared his throat, and spoke loudly. “All right then.” He laid the conch with great care in the grass at his feet. The humiliating tears were running from the corner of each eye. “I’m not going to play any longer. Not with you.” pg. 182 & 183

1.2. “Ralph grasped the idea and hit the shell with air from his diaphragm. Immediately the thing sounded. A deep, harsh note boomed under the palms, spread through the intricacies of the forest and echoed back from the pink granite of the mountain.” pg. 21

2. Gives people the power to speak during meetings

2.1. Jack stood up, scowling in the gloom, and held out his hands. “I haven’t finished yet.” “But you’ve talked and talked!” “I’ve got the conch.” Jack sat down, grumbling. pg. 115

2.2. “Then I’ll give him the conch.” “Conch?” “That’s what this shell’s called. I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he’s speaking... And he won’t be interrupted: Except by me.” Jack was on his feet. “We’ll have rules!” he cried excitedly. “Lots of rules! pg. 45

3. It has a powerful sound; influenced boy's vote for who the leader was. Conch

3.1. His ordinary voice sounded like a whisper after the harsh note of the conch. He laid the conch against his lips, took a deep breath and blew once more. The note boomed again: and then at his firmer pressure, the note, fluking up an octave, became a strident blare more penetrating than before. Piggy was shouting something, pg. 21

3.2. He paused, with the point made. The assembly was lifted toward safety by his words. They liked and now respected him. Spontaneously they began to clap and presently the platform was loud with applause. Ralph flushed, looking sideways at Piggy’s open admiration, and then the other way at Jack who was smirking and showing that he too knew how to clap. Ralph waved the conch. “Shut up! Wait! Listen!” He went on in the silence, borne on his triumph pg. 51