Samneric is the rather dismissive name given to Sam and Eric, the usually childish, irresponsible, unthinking twins. Sam and Eric are, figuratively, inseparable, and usually act with one mind. In this sense, they might be considered symbolic of the unthinking herd mentality that Golding is highlighting in the novel.
In chapter 6, Samneric describe their supposed encounter with the beast to the rest of the boys. The boys listen “with terror to the description the twins breathe at them . . . (and) soon the darkness (is) full of claws, full of the unknown and menace.” What Samneric actually saw, in the light from the fire, was the figure of the dead parachutist. Nonetheless, their story plays upon and exacerbates the existing fear of the beast, and thus Samneric are significant here in a dramatic sense. They are also significant in this moment because their story is rooted in false perceptions. This points to one of the main ideas in the story, namely the idea that the boys’ fears, represented in this instance by the “darkness,” are really only extensions or reflections of their own darkness, whether that be their ignorance or their primal instincts.
A little later in chapter 6, when Samneric are developing their story, they take turns with the conch. Golding writes that “one conch did for both twins, for their substantial unity was recognized.” Throughout the novel, Golding presents the twins as if they are one person. Indeed, in chapter 1, the other boys are initially incredulous at the “cheery duplication” in the twins’ physical features. Golding also says that the twins “breathed together . . . (and) grinned together.” The fact that Samneric are presented as indistinguishable, and inextricable, foreshadows the emergence of the collective, tribal identities that subsume so many of the boys later in the story. The twins are a small-scale warning against the inability to think independently. The island as a whole becomes a large-scale example of the same warning.
In chapter 11, Samneric are tortured by Jack and Roger and forced to accept Jack’s authority. Initially the other boys are reluctant to attack Samneric, but once they accept Samneric’s “otherness,” they join in the attacks much more freely. Golding writes, "Now the painted group felt the otherness of Samneric, felt the power in their own hands. They felled the twins clumsily and excitedly." Samneric are thus significant in this instance because they help to convey the link between prejudice and violence. When we consider people as “other,” whether that be because of their race, ethnicity, nationality of for a host of other possible reasons, we also tacitly endorse violence against those people. When we consider people as “other,” they seem to become separate and less than, and in some instances even inhuman. This is demonstrated neatly in this example with Samneric, and has been demonstrated on innumerable occasions throughout history.
Samneric are twins who are virtually inseparable throughout the novel. In Chapter 1, Ralph uses the conch shell to call the missing boys together on the island. The last two boys to arrive at the platform are the twins, Sam and Eric. Golding writes,
"They were twins, and the eye was shocked and incredulous at such cheery duplication. They breathed together, they grinned together, they were chunky and vital" (23).
Golding's initial portrayal of Sam and Eric remains unchanged throughout the novel as the twins are essentially considered one person.
In Chapter 6, the twins are supposed to be taking turns watching and feeding the fire, but they end up falling asleep because they do everything together. Golding writes,
"In theory one should have been asleep and one on watch. But they could never manage to do things sensibly if that meant acting independently, and since staying awake all night was impossible, they had both gone to sleep" (96).
Samneric are not considered intelligent, responsible, or independent. They do not follow through with taking turns and end up falling asleep during their duty.
After they return from the mountain, Ralph holds and assembly to discuss what Samneric saw on top of the mountain. While the twins are addressing the group, Golding writes,
"By custom now one conch did for both twins, for their substantial unity was recognized" (100).
Again, Samneric are considered one person and do not need to take turns using the conch shell to address the group.
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