1) In Chapter 2, during an assembly meeting the littlun with a mulberry birthmark on his face mentions that there is "beastie" on the island. This moment is significant to the collapse of civilized behavior because it begins the perpetual fear that is the catalyst for their irrational behavior. One of Golding's themes throughout the novel is how irrational fear can become destructive. The boy's fear propels them to seek protection from Jack, while Jack uses the fear to manipulate the boys into following his lead.
2) Another scene in the novel that speeds up the collapse of civilized behavior takes place in Chapter 4 when a ship passes the island. Jack convinces Samneric, who were in charge of maintaining the signal fire, to go hunting. When Jack and his hunters return with a dead pig, Ralph dismisses their accomplishment and chastises the hunters for allowing the signal fire to go out. This moment increases the tension between Ralph and Jack and illuminates their different ideologies. Later on in the novel, the group of boys will split because of differences between Jack and Ralph's form of leadership.
3) In Chapter 7, Ralph and Jack tell the boys they witnessed the beast on the top of the mountain. Jack accuses Ralph of being a coward and a weak leader. Jack attempts to usurp power but is unsuccessful. He runs away from Ralph's group and invites the boys to join his tribe. Jack's tribe is the epitome of barbarism and brutality. This moment speeds up the collapse of civilized behavior because it forces the boys to choose between the two tribes. Ralph's tribe represents structure, democracy, and civility, while Jack's tribe represents savagery, totalitarianism, and primitive behavior.
4) In Chapter 9, Simon climbs the mountain and witnesses the dead paratrooper. He runs through the forest to tell the boys the news that the "beast" is actually a dead human. On the beach, the boys are engaged in a hunting ritual, jumping and screaming in a frenzy. As Simon comes out of the forest, they mistake him for the beast and attack him. The boys stab, bite, and beat Simon to death. This moment is significant because it displays the extent to which the boys have descended into savagery and become uncivilized. They have proven themselves capable of killing human beings.
5) The final significant moment in the boy's descent into savagery takes place in Chapter 11 when Roger rolls a boulder, killing Piggy and breaking the conch. Piggy's murder symbolizes their complete rejection of civil society. The conch, which is a symbol of order and structure, also breaks. At this point in the novel, the only civilized character left on the island is Ralph. He is forced to fend for himself as Jack's tribe hunts him like a pig.
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