Final answer:
Jack initially dismisses the beast as imaginary, but later uses it to manipulate and control the other boys in Lord of the Flies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jack's thoughts and statements about the beast and the littluns change throughout the course of the novel Lord of the Flies. In the beginning, Jack dismisses the existence of the beast and says it is only a figment of the littluns' imagination. However, as fear and chaos escalate on the island, Jack starts using the fear of the beast to manipulate and control the other boys.
For example, he convinces the boys that they need to offer sacrifices to the beast, and he leads them in hunting and killing a sow, claiming it to be an offering. Jack's power over the littluns grows as he exploits their fears and uses the beast as a means to assert his authority.