Lord of the Flies: Breakdown of Social Order Several factors contributed to the breakdown of the social order, most of which were results of Jack's actions. When word broke out that there was a beast roaming about the island who would eat little children, most of the boys feared of going up the mountain where the beast was thought to live. Since the boys were too terrified of going near the beast, the signal fire on the mountain, ceased to burn and hope of rescue among the boys quickly diminished, despite Ralph's efforts to rally the boys to continue the signal fire. After Ja