In the seminal novel "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding, the act of the hunters painting their faces when they kill Simon carries deep symbolic significance.

This ritualistic behavior reflects the boys' gradual descent into savagery and their embrace of primal, tribal instincts as they become increasingly detached from the veneer of civilization.

The face painting serves as a visual representation of the boys' transformation from civilized children to primitive, tribal hunters.

By adorning their faces with war paint, they are shedding the last vestiges of their humanity and donning the mask of the predator. - https://perfectpaintpro.com/blog/did-the-hunters-paint-faces-killed-simon/?unique_id_1h2wrxyq

"The Ritual Facepaint: Uncovering the Symbolic Significance in Lord of the Flies"