The positive aspects associated with the glasses appear to be leaving the island. The glasses are now used in order to control an entire island. In the next quote, the fire has spread to uncontrollable proportions, and Ralph is trying to escape. The island has been swallowed up in the massive blaze: "He stumbled over a root and the cry that pursued him rose even higher. He saw a shelter burst into flames and the fire flapped at his right shoulder and there was the glitter of water. Then he was down, rolling over and over in the warm sand, crouching with arm to ward off, trying to cry for mercy" (Golding 200). The mention of "a shelter burst[ing] into flames" demonstrates the complete eradication of the progress that the boys have made. Moreover, Ralph is someone who is assertive and never backs down. Yet in this quote, Ralph is seen "trying to cry for mercy." This demonstrates both the sheer power of Piggy's glasses as a piece of technology and the complete dominance over both the entire island and its inhabitants that the technology can provide. The once productive, thriving community has become a society ruined by an excessive use of technology. Golding insinuates that modern society's dependence on technology will be detrimental when the technology becomes a source of ascendancy over others, regardless of the group's good