Ralph seems to have moments in which he forgets things. Why so you think the author includes these events in the novel?

When he and the others arrive on the island, Ralph quickly becomes the chief of the group, not by any harsh, overt or physical action, but by being elected.[5] Ralph is described as having "the directness of genuine leadership".[6] Ralph's first big decision is that they have "got to decide if this is an island".[7] After Ralph, Jack, and Simon discover that they are truly "on an uninhabited island",[8] Ralph suggests that a fire be lit because "if a ship comes near the island they may not notice us".[9] However, towards the end of the book he forgets the initial reason for maintaining the fire. This is representative of the debilitating effects corruption has even on the brightest mind.