The children do, initially, attempt to establish law and order. But this organizational structure breaks down as soon as individuals realize there is no consequence for misbehavior save what their fellows impart.
The story establishes a compelling historical dialect, with the kids initially attempting to replicate the world they remembered, but ultimately adapting to their material conditions over time. While you can certainly read it from a Hobbesian angle, you can also read it as an understanding of how the world functions even with "law and order". The strong prey upon the weak, gangs prey upon the individual, and all the high minded rhetoric in the world falls flat when you're on outside of the mob looking in.
The children do, initially, attempt to establish law and order. But this organizational structure breaks down as soon as individuals realize there is no consequence for misbehavior save what their fellows impart.
The story establishes a compelling historical dialect, with the kids initially attempting to replicate the world they remembered, but ultimately adapting to their material conditions over time. While you can certainly read it from a Hobbesian angle, you can also read it as an understanding of how the world functions even with "law and order". The strong prey upon the weak, gangs prey upon the individual, and all the high minded rhetoric in the world falls flat when you're on outside of the mob looking in.